A novel approach toward reducing energy consumption and promoting electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency in the buildings using Brick/polyaniline nanocomposite

In this research, a complementary approach was presented to prepare building materials, improving shielding and energy efficiency. Accordingly, a macroporous Brick was constructed and coated by the polyaniline (PANi) film using an innovative route. Diverse analyses were applied, attesting Brick/PANi composite has been synthesized. The results of the diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) analysis illustrated that the intensity of the light absorption in UV-Vis-NIR region was dramatically diminished for Brick/PANi, suggesting the nanocomposite for improving energy efficiency. Noticeably, the bandgap was augmented to 3.7 eV when Brick was coated by PANi. The warming samples were monitored using infrared thermometer under the near-infrared (NIR) light. Interestingly, the obtained results exhibited that the warming Brick/PANi nanocomposite was more time-consuming compared to Brick. More significantly, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms attested that Brick/PANi nanocomposite needs lower energy to augment its temperature due to the coated PANi film (12 mu m). The obtained results manifest that the reflection of NIR light from interface of PANi film plays the vital role in thermal behavior of Brick/PANi nanocomposite. Finally, Brick exposed significant shielding efficiency (SE) originated by its macroporous structure reinforcing interfacial polarization and the coated PANi film ascended its SE properties. The obtained results clarified that Brick/PANi nanocomposite has shielded more than 59% of the electromagnetic waves at x-band, which was mainly generated by relaxation and conductive loss produced by coated PANi and developed functional groups. More significantly, the absorption played vital role bringing SE of the samples, emphasizing the importance of the presented research. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.