Fabrication of multi-nanocavity and multi-reflection interface in rGO for enhanced EMI absorption and reduced EMI reflection

Through inserting SiO2@Au into the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layers, the rGO-SiO2@Au composites were prepared via the vacuum-assisted electrostatic self-assembly method. The obtained composites exhibit excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness due to the successful construction of multinanocavities (spherical SiO2 cavities and layered air cavities between rGO), multi-reflection interfaces (rGO and Au shell) and continuous conductive network (rGO-Au-rGO). Among them, the total shielding effectiveness (SET) of the composites with 75.78 wt% SiO2 and 19.38 wt% rGO can reach 38.4 dB at 18 GHz. Thereinto, the shielding effectiveness absorption (SEA) is 36.4 dB, 1.3 and 13.5 times higher than that of rGO and SiO2@Au. And the shielding effectiveness reflection (SER) is always below 5 dB from 1 to 18 GHz, much lower than that of rGO (about 15 dB). Further studies found that the SEA values were enhanced at 12.6 GHz and 6.2 GHz due to the construction of cavities and location of Au nanoparticles between the rGO layers. This study provides a simple and mild method to prepare high-performance thin-layered materials with applications in the field of EMI absorption shielding.

Automated summary

In this study, rGO-SiO2@Au composites were prepared via vacuum-assisted electrostatic self-assembly method, exhibiting excellent EMI shielding effectiveness. The construction of continuous conductive network between SiO2 cavities and air cavities played a key role in enhancing the shielding effectiveness.