Search for: All records

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 Ti₃C₂T_x/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 Ti₃C₂T_x/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.

Bio/artificial hybrid nanosystems based on biological matter and synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) remain a holy grail of materials science. Herein, inspired by the well‐defined metal–organic framework (MOF) with diverse chemical diversities, the concept of “armored red blood cells” (armored RBCs) is introduced, which are native RBCs assembled within and protected by a functional exoskeleton of interlinked MOF NPs. Exoskeletons are generated within seconds through MOF NP interlocking based on metal‐phenolic coordination and RBC membrane/NP complexation via hydrogen‐bonding interactions at the cellular interface. Armored RBC formation is shown to be generalizable to many classes of MOF NPs or any NPs that can be coated by MOF. Moreover, it is found that armored RBCs preserve the original properties of RBCs (such as oxygen carrier capability and good ex ovo/in vivo circulation property) and show enhanced resistance against external stressors (like osmotic pressure, detergent, toxic NPs, and freezing conditions). By modifying the physicochemical properties of MOF NPs, armored RBCs provide the capability for blood nitric oxide sensing or multimodal imaging. The synthesis of armored RBCs is straightforward, reliable, and reversible and hence, represent a new class of hybrid biomaterials with a broad range of functionalities.