Flexible TaC/C electrospun non-woven fabrics with multiple spatial-scale conductive frameworks for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding

Abstract Efficient, flexible, thin, and easy processing electromagnetic interference (EMI) performance materials attract attention to prevent increasingly electromagnetic pollution. Herein, we fabricated multiple spatial-scale conductive frameworks containing tantalum carbide (TaC) nanoparticles by electrospinning and high-temperature pyrolysis. The electrospun composite fabrics possess outstanding properties such as an excellent tensile strength of 9.5 MPa and excellent flexibility. Furthermore, the TaC nanoparticles with appropriate concentration can interconnect with each other endowing the composite fabrics with high electrical conductivity of 10.4 S cm−1. It also has great EMI SE of up to 37.7 dB in X band with only 0.2 mm thickness, and the SSE/t values of 4290.1 dB cm2 g−1. Owing to its pore structure, the shielding mechanism is mainly based on reflection and the finite element simulation further visually confirmed the excellent shielding capabilities. This novel electrospun composite fabrics have a great potential to be applied in fields of aerospace, and electronic devices.