Recent Progress of Liquid Metal-Based Electromagnetic Shielding Materials

Electromagnetic shielding materials are pivotal for suppressing electromagnetic radiation and mitigating potential health risks that electronic devices may pose to humans. Beyond health protection, they also hold significant strategic value in safeguarding national information security and maintaining stability. In the research of electromagnetic shielding materials, continuous technological advancements and growing application demands have driven the emergence of various novel materials. Among these, liquid metal (LM) exhibits outstanding properties-including exceptional electrical conductivity, excellent fluidity, and superior deformability-which endow it with substantial potential for application in electromagnetic shielding. Looking ahead, with the continuous advancement in related technologies, liquid metal-based electromagnetic shielding materials are expected to provide effective solutions to key challenges such as electromagnetic pollution and interference. This contribution synthesizes the latest literature. First, it clarifies the nomenclature and classification of liquid metals, as well as the fundamental framework for electromagnetic shielding. Then, it systematically distills recent research advances based on four key design motifs. These motifs include monolithic liquid metal (LM) scaffolds, LM/conductive-filler blends, LM/magnetic particle composites, and architectured multifunctional architectures. Finally, this review identifies current bottlenecks in the field and outlines directions for future development, which aim to achieve ultra-lightweight, broadband, and intelligent LM-based electromagnetic shields.