Scalable, superelastic, and superhydrophobic MXene/silver nanowire/melamine hybrid sponges for high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding

Abstract

Lightweight electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with a simple production process, a low density, good mechanical properties and stability, and a high absolute EMI shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) are urgently demanded for spacecraft, aircraft, and portable and wearable smart electronics, yet remain extremely challenging to manufacture. Herein, scalable, superelastic, and superhydrophobic MXene/silver nanowire/melamine (MS–MAF) hybrid sponges are fabricated via a facile dip-coating method. The MS–MAF hybrid sponge exhibits an ultralow density (11.98 mg cm⁻³), a large recoverable compression strain (80%), and fatigue resistance. By the rational design of two-dimensional MXene nanosheets and one-dimensional silver nanowires on the sponge skeleton, the MS–MAF hybrid sponge can achieve a high SSE/t of 10128 dB cm² g⁻¹, significantly surpassing that of most of the other porous EMI shielding materials ever reported. Due to the treatment of low surface energy coating, the MS–MAF hybrid sponge also shows excellent structural stability and superhydrophobicity, which is conducive to its application in complex practical environments. Consequently, this work offers a promising lightweight EMI shielding candidate with the features of large-scale production, superelasticity, superhydrophobicity and a high SSE/t.