3D Printed Carbon Fiber Composite for Scalable Piezoresistive Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Thermal Management

Abstract

Integrating multifunctionality with Joule heating, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and sensing in fiber-reinforced polymer composites is of particular interest for aerospace, space shuttle, and unmanned aerial vehicle applications. Most composites struggle to simultaneously optimize high EMI shielding over a wide detection range, high sensitivity for structural health monitoring, and deicing performance at low temperatures. Herein, we report the fabrication of woven carbon fiber (WCF) composites with a vertically grown AgBiS2 nanostructure over a WCF- and MXene-dispersed polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) substrate using a cost-effective, rapid, and innovative three-dimensional printing method. The high electrical conductivity imparted by the AgBiS2/MXene to the WCF/PVDF composites promoted effective Joule heating (84.2 degrees C, at 2 V), which provided the composites with deicing ability. A superior EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of about 85.7 dB and absolute EMI SE of 1.1 x 10(4) dB cm(2) g(-1) was realized for the nanorod (NR)-WCF 1.0% MXene composite. The EMI SE remained high after exposure to high operating temperatures and severe mechanical wearing. The device exhibited a piezoresistive sensing characteristic with a gauge factor of 16.38. The composites displayed excellent thermal stability, flame resistance, and superior mechanical properties (similar to 109% higher tensile strength compared with bare WCF/PVDF).