CuxS/PAN 3D Nanofiber Mats as Ultra-Lightweight and Flexible Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Materials

Shielding materials are becoming increasingly important, but present materials suffer from either insufficient mechanical stability or limited shielding properties. In this study, 3D flexible copper sulfide (CuxS)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber mats are developed via air spinning followed by chemical reaction with copper salt. The CuxS/PAN nanofiber mats exhibit an ultra-light-weight density of 0.044 g cm(-3) and a thickness of 0.423 mm. Stable electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) (29-31 dB) of the CuxS/PAN composite is achieved in the frequency range of 500-3000 MHz. EMI SE per unit surface density of 16 655.92 dB cm(2) g(-1) is several orders of magnitude higher than most copper sulfide containing EMI shielding materials reported in literature. In addition, the introduction of the CuxS improves the thermal stability and launderability of the PAN mats giving the mats thermal, mechanical, and aqueous stability. Finally, the shielding mechanism of the CuxS/PAN nanofiber mats for electromagnetic waves is proposed