Phosphorus-doped Ti3C2Tx MXene/ PEDOT:PSS aerogel-based electromagnetic interference shields with unique combination of high green index and shielding effectiveness

The development of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with high shielding effectiveness (SE) and low reflection (R) is crucial for advancing next-generation electronics and telecommunication systems. While traditional metallic and conventional 2D material-based shields generally meet SE requirements, their performance mainly relies on reflecting incident radiation due to their high conductivity, which contributes to secondary pollution. As electronics and communication networks continue to expand, the demand for EMI shields that primarily absorb incoming radiation is increasing. These shields should exhibit a green index (GI), which is the ratio of absorbance (A) to reflectance (R), close to or exceeding one. To address this, an environmentally friendly approach was used to produce Phosphorus (P) doped multi-layered Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene/PEDOT:PSS (P-Ti 3 C 2 T x @PP) hybrid aerogel with a 3D porous structure. The P-Ti 3 C 2 T x @PP aerogel leverages its highly porous architecture, interconnected conductive walls, and enhanced dipole polarization due to heteroatom doping, achieving an outstanding EMI SE of ∼52 dB at 18 GHz (with an average of 47.6 dB in the Ku-band) and an impressive GI value of 2, resulting the formation of absorption-dominating EMI shields. Moreover, incorporating P-doped Ti 3 C 2 T x reduces the shield's permittivity, thereby lowering the impedance mismatch between the free space and shielding material. It also improves the polarization losses, as validated by Density Functional Theory calculations. This study offers an innovative approach to creating high-SE and absorption-dominated EMI shields with a very high GI value. • A cost-effective approach for preparing phosphorus-doped Ti 3 C 2 T x @ PEDOT: PSS porous aerogel structure. • The porous aerogel exhibits a unique combination of high EMI shielding effectiveness (∼52 dB) and green index (GI = 2). • Studies on complex permittivity and DFT analysis reveal absorption-dominated EMI shielding mechanism. • This study presents a novel strategy for developing absorption-dominated EMI shields for future generations.