Filamentous Aerogels for Electromagnetic Shielding

The unrelenting expansion of electronics and wireless communications has brought an onslaught of electromagnetic interference and environmental radiation as a new form of pollution. Filamentous aerogels offer a viable solution to this growing challenge: with their hierarchical inter- and intra-filament porosities, they have recently shown great promise as EMI shielding materials. The multidirectional EM wave scattering within their hierarchical porous structure enhances attenuation much higher than conventional monolithic aerogels. This concept paper summarizes recent groundbreaking efforts in filamentous aerogel fabrication, with a focus on liquid streaming and 3D printing approaches. Further research and development could see filamentous aerogels emerge as next-generation materials to combat the intensification of electromagnetic environmental impacts.