Tough, highly conductive and flame-retardant MXene/NR films based on large-sized MXene sheets for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of electronic devices and wireless communication technologies has exacerbated electromagnetic interference (EMI), driving the demand for flexible shielding materials that combine high efficiency, mechanical robustness, and environmental stability. Herein, we report the fabrication of high-performance integrated Al-Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/natural rubber (NR) nanocomposite films by combining large-sized MXene nanosheets (6.45 μm in lateral dimension) prepared via solvent etching with pre-cured natural latex. The resulting MXene/NR film with an MXene content of 10 wt% reveals excellent mechanical properties, including a tensile strength of 25.36 MPa, a modulus of 4.59 MPa, and a toughness of 83.25 MJ m⁻³, which are significantly higher than those of the pure NR film, mainly attributed to the preparation of large-sized MXene and the interfacial hydrogen bonding interaction forces between NR and MXene. The film also presents excellent electrical conductivity (27 499 S m⁻¹), endowing it with a high EMI shielding effectiveness of 72 dB (8.2–12.4 GHz), attributed to the MXene 3D network structure. Notably, the MXene/NR film demonstrates good flame-retardant properties with a 49.9% reduction in the heat release rate and a 24.1% reduction in total heat release compared with a pure NR film and excellent environmental stability. This preparation strategy provides a practical path for the development of multifunctional electromagnetic shielding materials.