Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Centrifugal casting at 4000 r/min increases Herman's orientation factor from 0.681 to 0.794, a 16.6% improvement, directly enhancing anisotropic properties critical for EMI shielding and thermal management. • • Tensile strength and toughness of MXene/PVA films rise from 55.2 to 191.1 MPa and from ~0.8 to 2.5 MJ/m³, respectively, representing a 246% increase in strength and 213% in toughness, enabling robust flexible electronics. • • The optimized film achieves an absolute EMI shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) of 21029 dB cm²/g at ~8 μm thickness, surpassing many reported materials and meeting stringent lightweight shielding requirements. • • Infrared emissivity is reduced to 0.248, a significant decrease from typical values, enabling effective thermal camouflage for stealth applications in defense and energy-efficient buildings.
Abstract
MXene-based layered films are promising for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, yet achieving highly ordered structures in scalable production remains challenging. Here, we report a facile centrifugal casting method for fabricating MXene/polyvinyl alcohol (MXene/PVA) films with highly oriented and compact layered structures. During centrifugal casting, the viscous fluid experiences strong shear and centrifugal forces along tangential and normal directions, respectively, inducing compact and oriented arrangement of MXene nanosheets. Consequently, the Herman's orientation factor increases from 0.681 to 0.794 as rotation rate rises from 0 to 4000 r/min. Accordingly, tensile strength and toughness improve from 55.2 to 191.1 MPa and from ~0.8 to 2.5 MJ/m³, respectively. The highly oriented and compact layered structure with ultrathin thickness (~8 μm) enables a high absolute electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) of 21029 dB cm²/g. Moreover, increased orientation reduces infrared emissivity to 0.248, endowing the film with excellent thermal camouflage capability. This work presents an effective strategy for constructing high-performance MXene-based layered films.
1. Introduction
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are critical to mitigate radiation pollution from wireless electronics. Conventional metal-based shields are heavy and prone to corrosion, while polymer composites often lack sufficient conductivity. MXenes, with metallic conductivity and 2D morphology, offer high EMI shielding, but their practical use is limited by weak mechanical properties and poor processability. Existing fabrication methods, such as blade coating, yield moderate orientation and mechanical performance, hindering large-scale deployment.
This work introduces centrifugal casting to simultaneously align MXene nanosheets and compact the layered structure. The method applies shear and centrifugal forces, achieving high orientation (Herman's factor 0.794) and dense packing, which enhances mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. The resulting films exhibit dual functionality: superior EMI shielding (SSE/t of 21029 dB cm²/g) and low infrared emissivity (0.248) for thermal camouflage. This scalable approach addresses the bottleneck of producing high-performance MXene films for real-world applications.
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Congqi Liu, Jingyu Dong, Hongli Cheng, Chengen He, Bing Zhou, Ming Huang, Chuntai Liu, Yuezhan Feng (2026). Centrifugal casting-enabled highly oriented MXene-based layered films with dual-shielding against electromagnetic wave and infrared radiation. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3539-5
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum rotation rate used in centrifugal casting, and how does it affect the orientation factor and mechanical properties?
The maximum rotation rate is 4000 r/min. At this rate, the Herman's orientation factor increases from 0.681 (0 r/min) to 0.794, tensile strength rises from 55.2 to 191.1 MPa, and toughness from ~0.8 to 2.5 MJ/m³.
How does the film thickness influence the absolute EMI shielding effectiveness (SSE/t)?
The film thickness is ~8 μm, and the SSE/t is 21029 dB cm²/g. This high value is attributed to the highly oriented and compact layered structure, which enhances conductivity and shielding efficiency per unit weight.
What is the infrared emissivity of the optimized MXene/PVA film, and how does it compare to conventional materials?
The infrared emissivity is 0.248, which is significantly lower than typical values (e.g., 0.9 for many polymers), enabling effective thermal camouflage by reducing thermal signature.
What are the potential scalability limitations of centrifugal casting for industrial production?
Centrifugal casting is a batch process, but it can be scaled by using larger drums or continuous systems. The key is maintaining uniform shear and centrifugal forces across large areas. The method is facile and does not require complex equipment, making it suitable for roll-to-roll adaptation.
How does the addition of PVA affect the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding performance?
PVA acts as a binder, improving mechanical properties but potentially insulating MXene sheets. However, the high orientation and compact stacking reduce interlayer spacing, facilitating electron hopping and maintaining high conductivity, as evidenced by the high SSE/t.
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