Enhancing interfacial bonding and compositional synergy in ANF-PPy/Ag-MXene/ANF-PPy multilayer heterostructures for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding and infrared thermal camouflage

• • Achieved average EMI SE of 66.75 dB and SSE/t of 38432.54 dB cm2 g−1 at a film thickness of only 33 μm, demonstrating superior shielding efficiency per unit weight and thickness, critical for weight-sensitive aerospace and portable electronics. • • In-situ grown Ag nanoparticles effectively extend MXene layer spacing, enhancing electromagnetic wave scattering efficiency and contributing to the high shielding performance, as evidenced by the measured SE values. • • The multilayer heterostructure (ANF-PPy/Ag-MXene/ANF-PPy) enables multiple internal reflections and interfacial polarization losses, which are key mechanisms for achieving high EMI SE without compromising flexibility or mechanical integrity. • • The film exhibits high IR reflectivity due to the tight integration of multilayer structures, enabling simultaneous IR thermal camouflage and EMI shielding, a combination rarely achieved in a single material system.