Hybrid rGO-CNT/Epoxy Nanocomposites as Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Materials

With the development of modern integrated electronic and telecommunication systems, the need for high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials has grown stronger. However, the creation and application of high-performance EMI shielding materials remain challenging. In this research, a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid filler was prepared by chemical grafting of CNTs onto GO, followed by reduction. The grafting of CNTs effectively prevents the aggregation of rGO and establishes a conductive pathway between the rGO flakes, which confers an advantage to the hybrid rGO-CNT material in the EMI shielding performance. After compounding with an epoxy resin (filler content of 15%), the resulting epoxy/hybrid rGO-CNT nanocomposites have a very high EMI SE over a broad bandwidth (from 1 to 18 GHz), which far suppresses the values reported for most of the polymer composite-based EMI shielding materials. Thus, this research provides a practical method for the preparation of high-performance EMI shielding materials.