Graphene-skinned Alumina fiber Fabric for Diverse Electrothermal and Electromagnetic Compatibility and Its Mass...

As electronics and instrumentation grow increasingly complex, multifunctional materials are essential for simplifying designs. Electrothermal and electromagnetic functions are commonly used, typically supplied by separate materials. Integrating them into a single material can reduce components and miniaturize systems. Meanwhile, materials with widely tunable electrical and electromagnetic properties are needed to meet diverse application requirements, from electromagnetic waves transmitting to shielding, and electric heating across a wide temperature range. Graphene-skinned alumina fiber fabric (GAFF) with widely tunable electrical and electromagnetic properties is developed by graphene chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on each fiber in alumina fiber fabric (AFF). GAFF offers broad tunability in sheet resistance (1-10 000 Ω·sq^-1), electrothermal capability (up to ≈1400 °C), as well as electromagnetic reflectivity (≈0.003 to ≈0.91) and transmissivity (≈0.98 to ≈0.0001) by adjusting graphene thickness and AFF pore size. Mass production of GAFFs in various specifications is realized, enabling diverse applications. Heating-shielding-integrated device (GAFF-HS) featuring high electromagnetic reflectivity and low transmissivity, and heating-transmitting-compatible device (GAFF-HT) with low electromagnetic reflectivity and high transmissivity, are both fabricated to target distinct applications: electrothermal anti-/de-icing for electromagnetic interference shielding systems and radar systems, respectively. GAFF with widely tunable multifunction promises significant advancements in diverse applications in modern electronics and instrumentation.