Dimension-engineered sequential assembly of carbonene materials on arbitrary fiber substrates for electromagnetic interference shielding

Carbonene materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit exceptional electrical properties, making them promising for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding coatings. However, their hydrophobic and chemically inert nature poses challenges for uniform assembly onto hydrophilic or inert fiber surfaces, often requiring surface treatments or chemical modifications. Here, we report a dimension-engineering strategy to fabricate robust, conductive carbonene coatings on fiber substrates. Using a wet-chemistry assembly process, graphene sheets were first deposited as a base layer, followed by sequential integration of CNTs. This hierarchical assembly reduces graphene wrinkling and enhances sp²-carbon continuity. A 486-nm-thick carbonene coating boosted the conductivity of aramid fiber (AF) from 0 to 641.47 S/cm while maintaining a high tensile strength of 5.92 GPa. Fabrics woven from these coated AFs showed an EMI shielding effectiveness of 85.88 dB in the X band. This study presents an effective strategy for developing universal coatings, highlighting their applications for EMI shielding.