Multifunctional composite aerogel for multi-energy conversion and electromagnetic shielding

Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, led by Professor Huan Liu and Professor Xiaodong Wang, have developed a groundbreaking multifunctional phase-change composite that integrates multiple energy conversion capabilities with superior electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Their latest innovation, published in Nano-Micro Letters, offers significant potential for next-generation energy conversion and EMI shielding applications. This novel composite combines solar-thermal, thermoelectric, electrothermal, and magnetothermal energy conversion with high EMI shielding effectiveness, making it highly versatile for various practical applications.

Why This Composite Matters

• Multi-Energy Conversion: The composite enables efficient conversion of solar, electrical, and magnetic energy into thermal energy, making it highly versatile for various applications.
• High EMI Shielding: It achieves an impressive EMI shielding effectiveness of 66.2 dB in the X-band, protecting electronic devices from electromagnetic interference.
• Enhanced Thermal Storage: The incorporation of paraffin wax as a phase-change material significantly boosts the thermal energy storage capacity, ensuring efficient energy utilization.

Innovative Design and Mechanisms

• Unique Material Composition: The composite is based on a carbonized polyimide/Kevlar/graphene oxide@ZIF-67 bidirectional complex aerogel, combined with paraffin wax. The aerogel's unique bidirectional porous structure enhances its energy conversion efficiency.
• Synergistic Effects: The reduced graphene oxide and CoNC nanoparticles within the aerogel skeleton improve thermal conductivity and magnetic properties, facilitating efficient energy conversion and storage.
• Optimized Performance: The composite exhibits a solar-thermal conversion efficiency of 95.1%, an electrical conductivity of 232.8 S/m, and saturation magnetization of 18.61 emu/g, making it highly effective for multi-energy applications.

Future Outlook

• Scalability and Practical Applications: The scalable synthesis of this composite highlights its potential for practical applications in solar energy harvesting, deicing, human thermal therapy, and electronic device protection.
• Further Research: Future work may focus on optimizing the composite's composition and exploring other materials to enhance its performance and stability.
• Mechanistic Insights: This study provides valuable insights into the role of graphene oxide and CoNC nanoparticles in improving energy conversion and EMI shielding, offering a promising path for the development of advanced multifunctional materials.

Stay tuned for more groundbreaking advancements from Professor Huan Liu and Professor Xiaodong Wang as they continue to push the boundaries of multifunctional materials for sustainable energy and electromagnetic shielding applications!