Core–shell
nanoparticles are a unique class of nanostructured
materials, which received significant attention in the last two decades
owing to their exciting properties and a wide variety of applications.
By judiciously tuning the “core” as well as the “shell”,
an assortment of “core–shell” nanostructures
can be obtained with tailorable properties which can play pivotal
roles in designing materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI)
shielding and microwave absorption. In recent times when the use of
high-end electronics has been on the rise, electromagnetic pollution
is inevitable and it affects every walk of life. Among numerous e-pollutions,
a recently highlighted domain that has far-reaching consequences is
electromagnetic interference. EMI is the disturbance created during
an electronic device’s operation when it is in the vicinity
of an electromagnetic field caused by another electronic or electric
device. Since EMI decreases the lifetime and degrades the performance
of the electronic instruments and even affects human health, it is
crucial to protect sophisticated instruments and components from EM
interference. High-performance EMI shields capable of attenuating
microwave propagation efficiently have been developed in the past
decade. Herein, in this review, we attempted to provide a logical
guide to various “core–shell” nanostructures
(≤500 nm) that have been synthesized in the past decade for
the application in microwave absorption and EMI shielding. The prime
focus of this review article is to highlight the fundamental concept
of EMI shielding and microwave absorption that have been reported
for various systems in the literature along with various synthetic
and fabrication strategies in designing suitable broadband EM absorbers/screeners.
Finally, we also made an effort to provide a holistic outlook and
perspective in which upcoming research will continue to flourish.