Harmonizing material quantity and terahertz wave interference shielding efficiency with metallic borophene nanosheets

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• High demand for terahertz (THz) electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials in advanced communication, healthcare, and exploration.
• Existing THz EMI shielding materials face a trade-off between quantity used and shielding effectiveness (EES_t).
• Need for lightweight, highly effective EMI shielding solutions for versatile applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the trade-off between material quantity and EMI shielding effectiveness in the THz regime.
• To explore the potential of two-dimensional (2D) β12-borophene (β12-Br) nanosheets for high-performance THz EMI shielding.
• To develop a novel composite material for superior THz EMI shielding applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the unique properties of 2D β12-borophene (β12-Br) nanosheets, focusing on high electron mobility and low mass density.
• Fabricated a β12-Br polymer composite for THz EMI shielding evaluation.
• Characterized the shielding effectiveness (SE) and EES_t of the composite material at 0.87 THz.

Main Results:

• Achieved a THz EMI shield effectiveness (SE) of 70 dB and an EES_t of 4.8 × 10⁵ dB·cm²/g (@0.87 THz) using the β12-Br polymer composite.
• Demonstrated superior performance compared to existing THz shielding materials (EES_t < 3 × 10⁵ dB·cm²/g, SE < 60 dB).
• Required only 0.1 wt.% of β12-Br material to achieve significant SE, highlighting material efficiency.
• The composite exhibited excellent mechanical properties (158% tensile strain, 21 MPa Young's modulus), enabling conformable coatings.

Conclusions:

• 2D β12-borophene (β12-Br) nanosheets offer a promising solution for high-efficiency THz EMI shielding with minimal material usage.
• The developed β12-Br polymer composite surpasses current standards in both shielding effectiveness and material efficiency.
• The material's mechanical flexibility opens avenues for conformable shielding applications, indicating significant potential in the EMI shielding field.