Intelligent Hygroscopic Aerogels: Moisture‐Activated Dual‐Mode Switchable Electromagnetic Response

Abstract Intelligent electromagnetic materials featuring controllable and adaptive response characteristics play a vital role in managing complex electromagnetic environments. However, effectively modulating the electromagnetic wave responses from transmission to absorption, and advancing to interference shielding through external stimuli, remains challenging. Herein, a novel moisture‐activated dual‐mode switchable electromagnetic response pattern is demonstrated in hygroscopic lithium chloride@graphene aerogel (LiCl@GA). Benefiting from the ordered hierarchical structures that accelerate vertically oriented moisture convection, the LiCl@GA exhibits ultrahigh water uptake of 4.76 g g −1 and ultrafast water sorption kinetics. This hygroscopic behavior facilitates both switchable electromagnetic wave absorption and interference shielding during water sorption‐desorption processes. The switchable functionality originates from moisture‐driven ionic conduction, where LiCl@GA absorbs ambient moisture to establish highly conductive ionic pathways. From the initial state to low water uptake (0.3 g g −1 ), the maximum change in minimum reflection loss reaches −70.03 dB. Furthermore, at high water uptake (2 g g −1 ), the LiCl@GA exhibits switchable electromagnetic interference shielding capability with a broad modulation range from 5.28 to 21.4 dB during water sorption‐desorption cycles. This study unveils previously undiscovered mechanisms for reversibly modulating electromagnetic responses in aligned porous hygroscopic aerogels, expanding their potential applications in electromagnetic interference shielding, smart sensors, and adaptive communication systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-04-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202506857
Citations
34
Primary Topic
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
22.92

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article

Intelligent Hygroscopic Aerogels: Moisture‐Activated Dual‐Mode Switchable Electromagnetic Response

Gaofeng Shao, Xiaohui Zhu, Bin Quan, Zhijun Xu et al.
34 citations
Advanced Functional Materials
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
22.92
article

Intelligent Hygroscopic Aerogels: Moisture‐Activated Dual‐Mode Switchable Electromagnetic Response

Gaofeng Shao, Xiaohui Zhu, Bin Quan, Zhijun Xu, Gaoyuan Yu, Xiaogu Huang, Yu Chen
article en
34 citations

Abstract

Abstract Intelligent electromagnetic materials featuring controllable and adaptive response characteristics play a vital role in managing complex electromagnetic environments. However, effectively modulating the electromagnetic wave responses from transmission to absorption, and advancing to interference shielding through external stimuli, remains challenging. Herein, a novel moisture‐activated dual‐mode switchable electromagnetic response pattern is demonstrated in hygroscopic lithium chloride@graphene aerogel (LiCl@GA). Benefiting from the ordered hierarchical structures that accelerate vertically oriented moisture convection, the LiCl@GA exhibits ultrahigh water uptake of 4.76 g g −1 and ultrafast water sorption kinetics. This hygroscopic behavior facilitates both switchable electromagnetic wave absorption and interference shielding during water sorption‐desorption processes. The switchable functionality originates from moisture‐driven ionic conduction, where LiCl@GA absorbs ambient moisture to establish highly conductive ionic pathways. From the initial state to low water uptake (0.3 g g −1 ), the maximum change in minimum reflection loss reaches −70.03 dB. Furthermore, at high water uptake (2 g g −1 ), the LiCl@GA exhibits switchable electromagnetic interference shielding capability with a broad modulation range from 5.28 to 21.4 dB during water sorption‐desorption cycles. This study unveils previously undiscovered mechanisms for reversibly modulating electromagnetic responses in aligned porous hygroscopic aerogels, expanding their potential applications in electromagnetic interference shielding, smart sensors, and adaptive communication systems.

Advanced Functional MaterialsVol. 35(42)
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
22.92
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