Emerging agricultural, forestry and marine biomass for sustainable electromagnetic interference shielding

The rapid development of wireless communication technologies, including 5G and 6G, has significantly enhanced human connectivity but raised concerns about electromagnetic interference (EMI) and its impact on electronic devices. This has led to a growing demand for cost-effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional EMI shielding materials. EMI shielding materials, prevent electronic devices from disruption by external EM waves. Recent research has highlighted the potential of biomass-derived materials from agricultural residues, forestry, and marine sources for effective EMI suppression. This review provides an overview of emerging bio-based materials such as bamboo fibers, cellulose fibrils, fruit peels (apple, banana, papaya, pineapple), wood laminates, wheat straw, rice husk, chitin, chitosan, and algal-based composites. Novel sources like castor oil, bacterial cellulose, chicken feathers, burlap waste, and beeswax are explored for their role in bio-composite fabrication. Key synthesis techniques and EMI shielding performance metrics of these materials are discussed. This review also addresses the current limitations of biomass-derived composites, including challenges related to scalability, cost-efficiency, and environmental durability. By systematically analysing the opportunities and challenges in this field, this review aims to guide future research and innovation, paving the way for sustainable and efficient EMI shielding solutions.