High-strength and Electrically Stable Aramid Nanofibers/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Polyaniline Hybrid Fibers for Flexible Electromagnetic Absorption Performance

Abstract

The rapid advancement of communication technologies and wearable applications has increased the demand for high-performance flexible electromagnetic wave absorption materials. Conventional conductive fibers are often constrained by their poor wearability, weak interfacial stability, and limited absorption efficiency, which restrict their reliability and practical applicability in dynamic environments. Herein, a flexible and robust electromagnetic-absorbing fiber was successfully fabricated via wet spinning techniques, which integrates multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), polyaniline (PANI), and aramid nanofibers (ANFs). Polymerization of PANI on the MWCNTs surface is employed to optimize impedance matching and enhance interfacial compatibility, while ANFs serve as a continuous structural skeleton, improving the mechanical strength and spinnability. The resulting composite fibers exhibited a tensile strength of (202.0±8.0) MPa and an elongation at break of 13.6%±0.9%, stable electrical conductivity under mechanical deformation, and ultrasonic cleaning. Notably, the fiber architecture enables superior electromagnetic wave absorption, achieving a minimum reflection loss of −62.07 dB and an effective bandwidth of 3.24 GHz compared to the powder counterparts, owing to the extended propagation path and multiple scattering within the aligned fiber network. In addition, the composite fibers demonstrated self-extinguishing behavior during combustion, reflecting their inherent flame-retardant characteristics. This study provides a feasible strategy for developing flexible, high-performance electromagnetic wave (EMW)-absorbing fibers for next-generation protective textile materials.