Electromagnetic interference shielding performance of Ag/multi-walled carbon nanotubes-poly(methyl methacrylate) composites

An efficient strategy for synthesizing Ag/multi-walled carbon nanotubes-poly(methyl methacrylate) (Ag/ MWCNT-PMMA) composites has been proposed. The synthesis concept is based on the modification of oxidized MWCNT with Ag nanoparticles and subsequent distribution of the obtained Ag/MWCNT-Ox hybrids in a PMMA matrix. Herein, Ag/MWCNT-Ox hybrids with various size and content of Ag nanoparticles serve as a tool for tuning the electrical conductivity of the two series of Ag/MWCNT-PMMA composites with MWCNT-Ox content before (4 wt%) and after (10 wt%) the percolation threshold. Adding 0.2 wt% of Ag to the first composite series with nanotubes content of 4 wt% leads to a decrease in the percolation threshold in a three-component system. In the case of the second composite series, the introduction of Ag up to 1 wt% leads to a monotonic increase in the conductivity within one order of magnitude. Ag/MWCNT-PMMA demonstrates high shielding efficiency for incident radiation in the frequency range of 26-37 GHz, most of which is absorbed due to the conductive nature of the material. The improved electromagnetic properties of the Ag/MWCNT-PMMA composites are explained by the uniform distribution of fillers in the polymer, which ensures the formation of a 3D conducting network inside