Electrospun Magnetic Nanofiber as Multifunctional Flexible EMI-Shielding Layer and its Optimization on the Effectiveness

Abstract

We developed a flexible and micro-thick electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding nanofabric layer that also functions as a water resisting and heat sinking material. Electrospinning followed by a simple heat treatment process was carried on to produce the EMI-shielding Ni/C hybrid nanofibers. The ambient oxygen partial pressure (<TEX>$pO_2$</TEX> = 0.1, 0.7, 1.3 Torr) applied during the heat treatment was varied in order to optimize the effectiveness of EMI-shielding by modifying the size and crystallinity of the magnetic Ni nanoparticles distributed throughout the C nanofibers. Permittivity and permeability of the nanofibers under the electromagnetic (EM) wave frequency range of 300 MHz~1 GHz were measured, which implied the EMI-shielding effectiveness (SE) optimization at <TEX>$pO_2$</TEX> = 0.7 Torr during the heat treatment. The materials' heat diffusivity for both in-plane direction and vertical direction was measured to confirm the anisotropic thermal diffusivity that can effectively deliver and sink the local heat produced during device operations. Also, the nanofibers were aged at room temperature in oxygen ambient for water resisting function.