Low-cost and durable flexible graphite nanosheets/ polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/ electrospun nanofiber composites for electromagnetic shielding and electrothermal applications

Abstract

Background

With the rapid advancement of technology in various fields, electromagnetic radiation pollution has increasingly affected both human health and device performance. While a wide range of materials have been studied for shielding, most remain confined to laboratory scales, with a limited focus on cost-effective and scalable approaches.

Methods

In this study, industrial graphite was used as the primary absorber. Graphite nanosheets (GNS) were prepared via ball milling, while PAN nanofibers were electrospun from a 12 wt.% solution. GNS were deposited using spray- and dip-coating, stabilized with PDMS, and fused for enhanced durability.

Significant findings

The maximum EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) in this technique is 33.7 dB/mm. To improve EMI SE, GNS/PDMS dispersion was applied in layers of 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/cm² onto the electrospun web using the spray-coating procedure. The optimized specimen, fabricated using the spray-coating method with a surface GNS density of 30 g/cm², exhibited a relative SE of 55.9 dB/mm. It also demonstrated acceptable electrothermal properties, reaching a high temperature of 63.3°C under an applied voltage of 12 V. The multifunctional nanofiber composites developed in this study—featuring high-performance EMI shielding, effective heat dissipation, and stable Joule heating—offer strong potential for next-generation flexible and high-power electronic systems, particularly in fields such as microelectronics and smart wearables. Their thermal stability, processability, and the use of low-cost materials through scalable fabrication methods further enhance their suitability for practical and advanced industrial applications.