High-Conductivity Flexible MXene Electromagnetic Films for Radio-Frequency Antennas

With the advancement of the Internet of Everything (IoE), flexible electromagnetics has emerged to enable adjustable electromagnetic performance under mechanical deformation. As key electromagnetic devices, flexible radio-frequency (RF) antennas enable reliable wireless communication, which requires conductive materials that combine mechanical flexibility with high electrical conductivity to minimize electromagnetic loss. However, maintaining efficient electron transport while accommodating deformation remains a major challenge. MXene emerges as a promising electromagnetic material because its atomic-thin layers can slide under bending to reduce strain, and its high in-plane conductivity enables efficient electron transport. Nevertheless, the monolayer defects or inefficient interlayer charge transport in MXene films increases the effective skin depth and weakens surface current confinement, thereby increasing electromagnetic transmission loss with reduced radiation efficiency. This review summarizes recent advances in high-conductivity (≥10,000 S cm –1 ) MXene electromagnetic films and outlines the challenges and prospects for their application in flexible RF antennas.