Dr Sarathchandran C Assistant Professor (Sl. Gd.), Chemistry, Amrita School of Engineering, Chennai, was awarded 24.84 Lakhs from the Defence Research and Development Board to develop ultra-low-density carbon composite-based hybrid materials for effective EMI shielding applications.

With applicability in the defence sector, the project, funded from April 2024 to April 2027, will attempt to develop high-efficiency hybrid coatings for stealth applications in space vehicles.

The proposed project aims to develop hybrid carbon composites for effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. Electromagnetic radiations in the frequency range of

30MHz to 20 GHz are the most destructive.

Polymer nanocomposites demonstrate significant potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by several challenges:

• Inconsistent nanofiller dispersion
• Limited scalability
• Irregular performance in real-world scenarios
• Narrow testing range, typically limited to 5-12 GHz.

Effective EMI shielding relies on three primary mechanisms: reflection, absorption, and multiple reflections.

This research proposes the development of 3D hybrid carbon composites that exhibit:

• High shielding efficiency
• Enhanced mechanical properties
• Excellent thermal stability

Key advantages of these composites include:

• Ease of fabrication into complex shapes
• Scalability for large-scale production
• Cost-effectiveness.

The hybrid material features a unique layered structure:

• Inner Layer: Iodide monobromide (IBr)-doped carbon aerogel-carbon composite, designed for efficient wave absorption. The porous nature of carbon aerogel further enhances shielding through reflection and multiple reflections.
• Outer Layer: Multilayer carbon laminate, providing superior mechanical strength and thermal stability.
• Joining Mechanism: Epoxy resin ensures robust inner and outer layer bonding.

Basis of the Research

• High-Performance EMI Shielding from Graphene-MnFe2O4-MWCNT Hybrids in Polymers
• Flexible Polymer Composites for EMI Shielding: A Review of Metal and Carbon Filler Advances
• Conductive Filler Distribution and EMI Shielding in Flexible Polymer Blends
• Carbon Filler-Based Nitrile Rubber Composites for EMI Shielding
• Exceptional EMI Shielding of Chemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Paper at 101 GHz
• Iron-Based Materials for EMI Shielding: A Review
• EMI Shielding Properties of Polyaniline/Cu0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4 Nanocomposites
• Carbon-Assisted Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanocomposites for EMI Shielding
• Graphene Quantum Dots in Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Polypyrrole Blends for EMI Shielding
• Layered MWCNT-PMMA Composites for Enhanced EMI Shielding
• Carbon Materials for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding
• Polymers and Nanocomposites for EMI Shielding: A Review
• Honeycomb-Structured Reduced Graphene Oxide for Enhanced EMI Shielding in Epoxy Composites
• Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanoparticle-Reinforced PVDF for EMI Shielding
• Carbon-Based Polymer Nanocomposites for EMI Shielding: Recent Advances
• High-Performance EMI Shielding from Large-Area AgNW-Modified Textiles