Infrared-transparent films based on conductive graphene network fabrics for electromagnetic shielding

Transparency in the infrared (IR) light region and high conductivity for electromagnetic (EM) shielding performance are contradicting properties for conventional window materials. It is challenging to explore a new class of materials with both IR transmittance and high electrical conductivity. Herein, middle-IR transmittance and EM-shielding performance are realized by graphene network fabrics (GNFs). GNFs are fabricated by chemical vapor deposition using copper mesh with different geometric constructions as the sacrificial substrate. The structure of GNFs endows the as-fabricated material high IR transmittance, good electrical conductivity, and EM-shielding efficiency. The grid parameter with regard to the square aperture and wire width exerts a profound effect on the EM-shielding performance. The highest EM-shielding efficiency is 12.86 dB at 10 GHz with a transmittance of 70.85% at 4500 nm. Meanwhile, the highest IR light transmittance is 87.85% with an EM-shielding efficiency of 4 dB. Based on the experimental and theoretical analyses, the EM-shielding efficiency is prominently dependent on microwave absorption. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.