Electrospun carbon fibers embedded with core–shell TiC@TiO[formula omitted] nanostructures and their epoxy composites for potential EMI shielding in the Ku band

Abstract

The demand for developing efficient shielding materials to safeguard electronic instruments from unwanted electromagnetic waves and their associated interference is growing. The present work reports on one such effective material, electrospun TiC@TiO 2 core–shell carbon fiber mats, synthesized by directly electrospinning nano titanium carbide embedded polyacrylonitrile fibers. The morphology of prepared mats and carbonized mats were observed using electron microscopy and the results are presented. The XRD, Raman spectra, XPS and EMI shielding characteristics of these carbon fiber samples were tested and are also presented. The results show the surface oxidation of TiC to TiO 2 during the conversation of the PAN fiber to carbon fiber. The electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of these TiC@TiO 2 carbon fiber mats was tested in the Ku band (12–18 GHz) and an excellent shielding effectiveness of ∼-33.31 dB for a single layer (thickness: 0.21 mm) was observed. Further, these mats were impregnated in an epoxy matrix and electrospun carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites were prepared. The ease of preparation, enhanced mechanical performance and excellent shielding capability makes these TiC@TiO 2 embedded carbon fiber mats and their epoxy composites promising structural EMI shielding materials.