Electromagnetic shielding efficiency of hybrid knitted fabrics treated with mxene

This study details the fabrication of a hybrid fabric structure achieved through the utilization of copper-cotton core-spun yarns and a streamlined dip-coating method for the coating of MXene sheets. This fabrication approach results in a substantial enhancement in electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE) in the X-band frequency (8.2-12.4 GHz) while significantly reducing the required number of MXene coating steps. The textile samples fabricated with 0.08 mm diameter copper core filaments and a knitting density of 12 gauge (needle/inch) exhibit a peak EMI SE of 43.9 dB following three MXene coating cycles, utilizing a 1x1 Rib knit pattern. In comparison, employing a Full Milano knit pattern results in an improved EMI SE, reaching up to 45.2 dB. These findings elucidate the substantial impact of knit structure and the effective MXene coating process on improving the EMI SE for hybrid textiles.