Exceptionally flame retardant and electromagnetic interference shielding aramid nanofiber-Ti3C2Tx MXene twin-layered films with remarkable mechanical strength and flexibility

Developing films that integrate excellent flame retardancy, robust electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and enhanced mechanical properties is of paramount importance for cutting-edge electronic and telecom devices. Here, by virtue of two-step process involving vacuum-assisted filtration and subsequent hot compression, a series of double-layered compositing films were successfully fabricated. These films feature a robust and resilient aramid nanofiber (ANF) enhancement layer that ensures superior mechanical performance, while the upper MXene/Montmorillonite (MMT) layer constructs a continuous conductive network to benefit electron transport and fire proofing. Consequently, the resulting film possess remarkable electrical conductivity (645.5 S cm−1), coupled with impressive mechanical attributes featuring a tensile strength of 73.0 MPa and toughness of 54.1 KJ m−3, impressive EMI shielding effectiveness (51.2 dB), and a high EMI SEE/t value of 9763.9 dB cm2 g−1. Moreover, such compositing film demonstrates superior flame resistance, sustaining combustion for 60 s without the presence of open flame, while efficiently suppressing heat release (by 95.8 %) and poisonous smoke emission. This research lays foundation for fabricating robust and fire-proof films with excellent EMI shielding capacity, offering significant potential for applications in advanced electrical devices.