Heterogeneous interface enhanced polyurethane/MXene@Fe3O4 composite elastomers for electromagnetic wave absorption and thermal conduction

The development of high-performance functional composite materials has become a research hotspot in response to the hazards of overheating and electromagnetic radiation on modern electronic devices. Herein, we grew magnetic Fe3O4 particles in situ on the MXene layer to obtain the MXene@Fe3O4 composites with rich heterogeneous interfaces. Owing to the unique heterostructure and synergistic effects of the multiple electromagnetic wave absorption mechanisms, the composite achieved a minimum reflection loss of -27.14 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 2.05 GHz at an absorber thickness of 2.98 mm. Moreover, the MXene@Fe3O4 composites could be encapsulated in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by a thermal curing method. The obtained composite elastomer exhibited a stronger tensile strength, and its thermal diffusivity was 113% higher than that of pure TPU. Such additional mechanical properties and thermal conduction feature make this composite elastomer possible as an advanced electromagnetic absorber to adapt to the ever-changing environment for expanding more practical applications.