3D Printed Polyimide Nanocomposite Aerogels for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Thermal Management

Abstract

Aerogels were listed among the top ten emerging technologies in chemistry by IUPAC in 2022. Their record‐breaking properties sparked the emergence of a thriving insulation market, but solutions are sought to promote additional applications. A 3D assembly process based on direct ink writing of “aerogel‐in‐aerogel” nanocomposites is presented. The printed polyimide‐silica aerogels are non‐brittle (E = 6.7 MPa) with a super‐insulating thermal conductivity (20.3 mW m−1 K−1) and high thermal stability (T5wt% 447 °C). In addition, they display excellent low‐loss dielectric properties and microwave transmission over all relevant communication bands and can be functionalized for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The high shape‐fidelity printing, combined with laser‐induced etching of thermally conductive graphene layers, enable precise thermal management for portable electronics or maintain an extreme temperature gradient (−40 to +50°C) across a millimeter‐scale partition.

Advancements in 3D-printed architectures for electromagnetic interference shields

“…Zhao and his team members have developed a polyimide silica aerogel with low thermal conductivity and good thermal stability. 210 In addition, it also has excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. By combining laser induced thermal conductive graphene layer etching, the precise thermal management of portable electronic devices can be achieved, or extreme temperature gradients (−40 to +50 °C) can be maintained on millimeter scale partitions.…”

Direct ink writing of polyimide aerogels for battery thermal mitigation

“…To address these challenges of achieving the requisite rheology for DIW printing, a variety of rheology-modifying additives have been incorporated into sols, including cellulose nanocrystals, 83 graphene, 84 multi-walled carbon nanotubes, 84 bacterial cellulose, 85 fumed silica, 86 and silica aerogel particles. 87 Although additives may be useful for imparting additional functionality, they can also impact the desirable properties of the aerogel, modifying the porosity, density, and optical transparency compared to the pure aerogel. Only a handful of studies report DIW approaches for the printing of pure aerogels, i.e., without particle additives.…”

Preparation of robust and light‐weight anisotropic polyimide/graphene composite aerogels for strain sensors

“…Graphene is a highly promising nano material that possesses exceptional electrical conductivity, superior thermal properties, and remarkable mechanical strength. Due to these properties, it has found extensive applications in EMI shielding and functional composite materials 9,30–32 . Recent studies on graphene have led to an increased focus on the development of polymer/graphene composites featuring a porous structure, which has emerged as one of the most promising areas for further study in the field of current research.…”