Printable Aligned Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Film with Outstanding Thermal Conductivity and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Performance

Ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible aligned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films are fabricated by a facile, environmentally friendly, and scalable printing methodology. The aligned pattern and outstanding intrinsic properties render metal-like thermal conductivity of the SWCNT films, as well as excellent mechanical strength, flexibility, and hydrophobicity. Further, the aligned cellular microstructure promotes the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding ability of the SWCNTs, leading to excellent shielding effectiveness (SE) of similar to 39 to 90 dB despite a density of only similar to 0.6 g cm(-3) at thicknesses of merely 1.5-24 mu m, respectively. An ultrahigh thickness-specific SE of 25 693 dB mm(-1) and an unprecedented normalized specific SE of 428 222 dB cm(2) g(-1) are accomplished by the freestanding SWCNT films, significantly surpassing previously reported shielding materials. In addition to an EMI SE greater than 54 dB in an ultra-broadband frequency range of around 400 GHz, the films demonstrate excellent EMI shielding stability and reliability when subjected to mechanical deformation, chemical (acid/alkali/organic solvent) corrosion, and high-/low-temperature environments. The novel printed SWCNT films offer significant potential for practical applications in the aerospace, defense, precision components, and smart wearable electronics industries.

Automated summary

Ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible aligned single-walled carbon nanotube films with metal-like thermal conductivity, excellent mechanical strength, and outstanding electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding ability have been successfully fabricated through a scalable printing method.