Liquid Metal Grid Patterned Thin Film Devices Toward Absorption‑Dominant and Strain‑Tunable Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

The demand of high-performance thin-film-shaped deformable electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding devices is increasing for the next generation of wearable and miniaturized soft electronics.Although highly reflective conductive materials can effectively shield EMI,they prevent deformation of the devices owing to rigidity and generate secondary electromagnetic pollution simultaneously.Herein,soft and stretchable EMI shielding thin film devices with absorption-dominant EMI shielding behavior is presented.The devices consist of liquid metal(LM)layer and LM grid-patterned layer separated by a thin elastomeric film,fabricated by leveraging superior adhesion of aerosol-deposited LM on elastomer.The devices demonstrate high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness(SE)(SE_(T) of up to 75 dB)with low reflectance(SER of 1.5 dB at the resonant frequency)owing to EMI absorption induced by multiple internal reflection generated in the LM grid architectures.Remarkably,the excellent stretchability of the LM-based devices facilitates tunable EMI shielding abilities through grid space adjustment upon strain(resonant frequency shift from 81.3 to 71.3 GHz@33%strain)and is also capable of retaining shielding effectiveness even after multiple strain cycles.This newly explored device presents an advanced paradigm for powerful EMI shielding performance for next-generation smart electronics.

Boost Up the Mechanical and Electrical Property of CNT Fibers by Governing Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Mesophases with Aramid Polymers for Robust Lightweight Wiring Applications

Monofilament type of polyaromatic amide(PA)and carbon nanotube(CNT)composite fibers is presented.A concept of a lyotropic liquid crystal(LLC)constructed via a spontaneous self-assembly is introduced to mitigate the extremely low com-patibility between PA and CNT.These approaches provide an effective co-processing route of PA and CNT simultaneously to fabricate the uniform,continuous,and reliable composite fibers through a wet-spinning.Interestingly,the addition of a small amount PA into the dope solution of CNT governs the LLC mesophase not only in a spinneret stage but also in a coagulant region.Thus,the developed PA/CNT composite fibers have the high uniaxial orientational order and the close interfacial packing compared to the pure CNT fibers.The PA/CNT composite fibers achieve the outstanding tensile strength,electrical conductivity,and electrochemical response,while maintaining a lightweight.They also exhibit the chemical,mechanical,and thermal robustness.All of these advantages can make flexible,sewable,and washable PA/CNT composite fibers ideal nanocomposite materials for use in next-generation information and energy transporting system by replacing conventional metal electrical conductors.