Flexible N-doped carbon nanofiber containing Nb2O5 nanoparticle and its polydimethylsiloxane composite for electromagnetic interference shielding

Abstract

The miniaturization of electronic devices and systems has led to increasingly sophisticated electronic circuits, resulting in electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can substantially influence performance of electronic devices and wireless communications. To address this issue, researchers have extensively explored various strategies including application of EMI shielding materials. Here, we use Nb2O5 nanoparticles incorporated N-doped carbon nanofibers (Nb2O5–CNF) for EMI shielding applications in wide frequency range (8.2 GHz–26.5 GHz). Nb2O5–CNF was prepared through electrospinning, followed by carbonization. A 50 wt% loading of Nb2O5 (Nb2O5–CNF-50) exhibited high EMI shielding effectiveness of 67 dB with a thickness of 0.08 mm, where, more than 80% of shielding is through absorption mechanism. Ease of handling of Nb2O5–CNF could be improved by making flexible PDMS composites of Nb2O5–CNF. The PDMS composites exhibited similar EMI shielding behavior in the frequency range 8.2–26.5 GHz. Nb2O5–CNF and their PDMS composites can open up new possibilities towards large scale production of lightweight, flexible, and easy-to-integrate materials to shield workspaces, surroundings, and complex electronic circuits against unwanted EM radiations.