IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-63665-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable electromagnetic interference shielding materials from cellulose-grafted n-type polymers

Author

Listed:
  • Siyao Cheng

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zelin Chen

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Daohu Sheng

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Wei Dong

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Rong Cao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zebin Su

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Mengde Wu

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Xufei Zhu

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Aming Xie

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Soumya Mukherjee

    (University of Limerick)

  • Weijin Li

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) from ever-shorter device lifecycles is fueling a search for sustainable alternatives to conventional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, which are typically non-degradable and hard to recycle. Addressing this challenge, here we present a durable, high-performance EMI shielding film that is both recyclable and biodegradable. Thanks to a simple fabrication process, our introduced composite blends renewable cellulose nanofibers, a conductive n-type polymer, and a small ionic liquid additive into a robust film. This all-organic film achieves tunable shielding effectiveness between 29.77 to 83.77 dB, comparable to traditional metal or carbon-based shields. The film demonstrates good recyclability, retaining 97.72% of its initial EMI shielding performance after ten reprocessing cycles. Furthermore, it undergoes complete biodegradation in soil at the end of its lifecycle, leaving no persistent waste, thereby offering a sustainable solution for EMI shielding applications. Combining strong EMI shielding with end-of-life degradability and reusability, this work offers a sustainable pathway to electronics that reduce e-waste and promote a circular economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Siyao Cheng & Zelin Chen & Daohu Sheng & Wei Dong & Rong Cao & Zebin Su & Mengde Wu & Xufei Zhu & Aming Xie & Soumya Mukherjee & Weijin Li, 2025. "Sustainable electromagnetic interference shielding materials from cellulose-grafted n-type polymers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63665-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63665-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63665-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-63665-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63665-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.