Terahertz shielding of carbon nanomaterials and their composites - A review and applications

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding reduces coupling between signals, crosstalk among electrical components, noise in cables and communication systems, etc. With the increasing speed of terahertz (THz) electronic circuits and systems, THz EMI shielding is becoming increasingly more important. We review recent and pioneering studies on shielding property structure characterization and applications of carbon nanocomposite materials in the THz frequency domain. The theory of EMI shielding by nanocomposite materials is summarized first. A description of relevant fabrication methods follows, along with structural characterization details. THz probing and characterization of carbon nanofillers and their composites as EMI shielding and attenuation materials is presented next. Finally, the application of these materials in quasi-optical THz components, including polarizers and potentially mesh filters, as well as related manufacturing techniques are reviewed and discussed. Specific examples are presented in some detail to introduce the reader to this exciting and rapidly evolving technological area. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.