Lightweight, flexible and freestanding PVA/PEDOT: PSS/Ag NWs film for high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding

In order to fulfill the ever-growing requirements for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, achieving a high efficiency with great flexibility is still a big challenge. Herein, high-performance EMI shielding composite films with excellent mechanical properties were fabricated via a convenient evaporation method using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and silver nanowires (Ag NWs) as conductive fillers. By adding 1.38 wt% Ag NWs into the original polyvinyl alcohol/PEDOT: PSS (PVA/PEDOT:PSS) composite, the obtained film with a thickness of about 20 mu m shows a remarkable EMI shielding performance (similar to 33 dB) and a special EMI shielding efficiency of 16,800 dB cm(-1) at 10 GHz. Furthermore, PVA/PEDOT: PSS/Ag NWs films present excellent tensile strength (similar to 62.39 MPa) and elongation at break (similar to 29.3%). The good mechanism allows the films to apply in actual harsh environments. Overall, this study will draw attentions to the new films for electromagnetic shielding application.

Automated summary

This study successfully fabricated high-performance EMI shielding composite films with excellent mechanical properties via a convenient evaporation method. By adding Ag NWs into the original composite, the films showed remarkable EMI shielding performance and mechanical properties.