Surface Neuronal-Like Structuring of High-Strength CFRP for Enhanced Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

In the functional structures of aerospace carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, achieving the simultaneous enhancement of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance and mechanical properties remains a critical challenge. In this work, an efficient CFRP interfacial modification strategy combining electrodeposition with vacuum heat treatment is proposed to address the inherent trade-off between shielding effectiveness and mechanical performance of CFRP-EMI shielding materials. A neuronal-like micro-nano Ni coating is fabricated on carbon fiber surfaces to enhance electromagnetic shielding capacity. The formed discontinuous Ni─C miscible regions, Ni/NiO/C heterogeneous multiphases, and nanoporous structures effectively improve the interfacial integration between the matrix and coating, as well as the mechanical properties. In the X-band, the reflection loss, absorption loss, and total EMI shielding effectiveness are increased by 33%, 18.6%, and 22.5%, respectively, while the ductility is improved by 201.78%, realizing the synergistic promotion of electromagnetic shielding and mechanical performance. Combined with experimental characterization and molecular dynamics analysis, the growth mechanism of polycrystalline phases during interfacial evolution is further clarified. This study innovatively proposes a high-efficiency and controllable design strategy for advanced CFRP-EMI functional materials, which provides a promising solution for the application of lightweight, high-strength, and self-adaptive electromagnetic shielding in the design of next-generation multifunctional aerospace structures.