Water- and oxidation-resistant MXenes for advanced electromagnetic interference shielding applications

Abstract

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) show great promise for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, their susceptibility to oxidation, particularly in humid environments or water, limits their industrial applications. This study introduces a straightforward method for developing functionalized MXenes (F-MXenes) with significantly enhanced oxidation resistance and environmental stability, which are critical factors for industrial scalability. The resulting F-MXenes disperse easily in non-polar solvents, adhere well to various substrates, and remain highly stable under harsh conditions in an accelerated oxidation test at 100°C and 80% relative humidity for 49 days; F-MXenes retained 93% of their initial electrical resistance. Additionally, these films withstand water exposure, maintain superior current retention in seawater and corrosive environments, and exhibit high flexibility (10 000 bending cycles) and tensile strength (35 MPa). Notably, the EMI shielding effectiveness of the hydrophobic F-MXene films, produced using scalable techniques such as spray and blade coating, far exceeds that of previously reported hydrophobic MXene films and MXene composites, achieving 52–77 dB at thicknesses of 5–40 μm. This study highlights the potential of F-MXene as high-performance, scalable EMI-shielding coatings, particularly in humid or water-exposed environments. (Figure presented.).