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Abstract MXene and graphene cryogels have demonstrated excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness due to their exceptional electrical conductivity, low density, and ability to dissipate electromagnetic waves through numerous internal interfaces. However, their synthesis demands costly reduction techniques and/or pre‐processing methods such as freeze‐casting to achieve high EMI shielding and mechanical performance. Furthermore, limited research has been conducted on optimizing the cryogel microstructures and porosity to enhance EMI shielding effectiveness while reducing materials consumption. Herein, a novel approach to produce ultra‐lightweight cryogels composed of Ti3C2Tx/graphene oxide (GO) displaying multiscale porosity is presented to enable high‐performance EMI shielding. This method uses controllable templating through the interfacial assembly of filamentous‐structured liquids that are readily converted into EMI cryogels. The obtained ultra‐flyweight cryogels (3–7 mg cm−3) exhibit outstanding specific EMI shielding effectiveness (33 000–50 000 dB cm2 g−1) while eliminating the need for chemical or thermal reduction. Furthermore, exceptional shielding is achieved when the Ti3C2Tx/GO cryogels are used as the backbone of conductive epoxy nanocomposites, yielding EMI shielding effectiveness of 31.7–51.4 dB at a low filler loading (0.3–0.7 wt%). Overall, a one‐of‐a‐kind EMI shielding system is introduced that is readily processed while affording scalability and performance.
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MXene‐Vitrimer Nanocomposites: Photo‐Thermal Repair, Reinforcement, and Conductivity at Low Volume Fractions Through a Percolative Voronoi‐Inspired Microstructure
Abstract An innovative process to multifunctional vitrimer nanocomposites with a percolative MXene minor phase is reported, marking a significant advancement in creating stimuli‐repairable, reinforced, sustainable, and conductive nanocomposites at diminished loadings. This achievement arises from a Voronoi‐inspired biphasic morphological design via a straight‐forward three‐step process involving ambient‐condition precipitation polymerization of micron‐sized prepolymer powders, aqueous powder‐coating with 2D MXene (Ti3C2Tz), and melt‐pressing of MXene‐coated powders into crosslinked films. Due to the formation of MXene‐rich boundaries between thiourethane vitrimer domains in a pervasive low‐volume fraction conductive network, a low percolation threshold (≈0.19 vol.%) and conductive polymeric nanocomposites (≈350 S m−1) are achieved. The embedded MXene skeleton mechanically bolsters the vitrimer at intermediate loadings, enhancing the modulus and toughness by 300% and 50%, respectively, without mechanical detriment compared to the neat vitrimer. The vitrimer's dynamic‐covalent bonds and MXene's photo‐thermal conversion properties enable repair in minutes through short‐term thermal treatments for full macroscopic mechanical restoration or in seconds under 785 nm light for rapid localized surface repair. This versatile fabrication method to nanocoated pre‐vitrimer powders and morphologically complex nanocomposites is compatible with classic composite manufacturing, and when coupled with the material's exceptional properties, holds immense potential for revolutionizing advanced composites and inspiring next‐generation smart materials.
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- PAR ID:
- 10560228
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Materials
- Volume:
- 37
- Issue:
- 5
- ISSN:
- 0935-9648
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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