Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties in the 1-18 GHz frequency range for multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composites are reported. A simple and gentle acid-treatment of MWNT showed a percolation threshold (PT) of 0.15 wt% in the PVDF matrix as against 0.35 wt% for unfunctionalized MWNT. Acid-treatment of MWNT significantly improves dispersion, interfacial adhesion with the matrix and the EMI shielding properties of PVDF composites. Further, the EMI shielding properties are correlated with the electrical properties. Using composite films of 0.3 mm thickness, the maximum shielding effectiveness (SET) values for 4 wt% unfunctionalized MWNT composites are found to be about 110, 45, 30, 26, and 58 dB for L (1-2 GHz), S (2-4 GHz), C (4-5.8 GHz), J (5.8-8 GHz), and X (8-12 GHz) bands, while the corresponding values for only 0.5 wt% acid functionalized MWNT composites are about 98, 45, 26, 19, and 47 dB, respectively. The electrical conductivity for both the cases is ∼10(-3) S cm(-1) and the weight contents of CNTs are higher than the PT for the respective composites. The comparable EMI SE and electrical conductivity values for both the composites at different weight fractions of CNTs suggest that there is a critical electrical conductivity above which the composites attain improved EMI shielding properties. Further, the shielding mechanism was found to be dominated by absorption loss. Therefore, the composites may also serve as a radar absorbing material.

A very thin graphene nanoribbon/polyvinyl alcohol (GNR/PVA) composite film has been developed which is light weight and requires a very low concentration of filler to achieve electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding as high as 60 dB in the X band. Atomic force microscope studies show very well conjugated filler concentration in the PVA matrix for varying concentrations of GNR supported by Raman spectroscopy data. The films show 14 orders of increase in conductivity with a GNR concentration of 0.75% [corrected] in PVA. This is possible because of the interconnected GNR network providing a very low percolation threshold as observed from the electrical measurements. Local density of states study of GNR using scanning tunnelling spectroscopy shows the presence of localized states near the Fermi energy. There are multiple advantages of GNR as an EMI shielding material in a polymer matrix. It has good dispersion in water, the conductive network in the composite shows very high electrical conductivity for a very low concentration of GNR and the presence of localized density of states near Fermi energy provides the spin states required for the absorbance of radiation energy in the X band.

This communication reviews current developments in carbon nanostructure-based composite materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. With more and more electronic gadgets being used at different frequencies, there is a need for shielding them from one another to avoid interference. Conventionally, metal-based shielding materials have been used. But due to the requirement of light weight, corrosion resistive materials, lot of work is being done on composite materials. In this research the forerunner is the nanocarbon-based composite material whose different forms add different characteristics to the composite. The article focusses on composites based on graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, and several other novel forms of carbon.

No abstract