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Continuous-Conductivity-Gradient All-Organic Aerogels with Machine-Learning-Assisted Design toward Ultrabroadband,
Yue Liu1, Na Wu2, Qilong Zhao1
1State Key Laboratory of Coatings for Advanced Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 1, 2026
Summary
A novel continuous-conductivity-gradient aerogel offers ultrabroadband, ultralow-reflection electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Machine learning optimized this material for superior performance across wide frequency ranges.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electromagnetics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Achieving simultaneous low reflection and low transmission for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is challenging, especially in lightweight, scalable aerogels.
- Existing materials often struggle with impedance matching across broad frequency ranges, leading to reflection losses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a lightweight, scalable aerogel with ultralow reflection and high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (SE) across ultrabroadband frequencies.
- To utilize machine learning (ML) for optimizing the material's structure and electromagnetic properties.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a continuous-conductivity-gradient (CCG) aerogel using diffusion-controlled in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole within an aramid nanofiber scaffold.
- Employing an energy-efficient, scalable ambient-pressure-drying strategy.
- Machine-learning-assisted optimization of the aerogel's gradient structure for impedance matching.
Main Results:
- The optimized CCG aerogel demonstrated an effective absorption-dominated bandwidth of 29.76 GHz (10.24-40 GHz) with electromagnetic wave (EMW) reflectivity below 0.1.
- Achieved EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) above 40 dB across the ultrabroadband frequency range of 8.2-40 GHz.
- The continuous gradient facilitated smooth impedance transition and progressive bulk microwave attenuation, outperforming existing materials.
Conclusions:
- The ML-assisted CCG aerogel strategy successfully integrates electromagnetic and structural design with scalable manufacturing for advanced EMI shielding.
- The developed aerogel offers a general platform for ultrabroadband, ultrahigh-absorption, ultralow-reflection EMI shielding in diverse material systems.
- This approach overcomes impedance discontinuities inherent in discrete multilayered shielding materials.
