Frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerized polydicyclopentadiene carbon nanotube/graphene aerogel composites with enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding

In order to solve the problem of electromagnetic radiation and interference, improving the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of polymer nanocomposites is still an arduous challenge. Three-dimensional (3D) lightweight porous carbon nanotube/graphene nanosheet aerogels (CNT/GN) were prepared by freeze-drying method. The CNT/GN conductive framework template was filled with dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), and the polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD)-CNT/GN composites were prepared by frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP). Compared with PDCPD-CNT/GN-1 (the GN-1 diameter of 0.5 ~ 1 µm), the PDCPD-CNT/GN-2 (the GN-2 diameter of 1 ~ 2 µm) can form a more regular and compact conductive network structure, thereby achieving higher EMI shielding effectiveness (SE). The 3D framework not only solves the aggregation of CNT and GN, but also serves as a fast channel for electronic transmission, attenuating the incoming electromagnetic waves. Due to the existence of this 3D nano-hybrid framework, the PDCPD-3CNT/2GN-2 composites containing 3.5 wt% of 3CNT/2GN-2 aerogel exhibit the conductivity of 61 S/m and EMI SE of 43 dB. All PDCPD-CNT/GN composites possess a high glass transition temperature (Tg) above 150 ℃ and maintain excellent thermal stability.Graphical abstract