Carbon nanotube-reinforced graphene aerogels for self-monitored electromagnetic interference shielding under extreme conditions
Graphene/carbon nanotube (CNT) aerogels hold great potential as ultralight materials that combine excellent mechanical properties, high electrical conductivity, and high resilience. However, their mechanical robustness is currently limited by poor compatibility between graphene and CNTs and the substantial reduction in the lateral dimensions of graphene sheets during preparation. In this work, we employ a stationary oxidation strategy to prepare graphite oxide (GtO) with large lateral dimensions, followed by co-sonication with single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) powder. During sonication, SWCNTs tend to intercalate between graphene oxide (GO) sheets, forming robust sandwich structures. Meanwhile, the GtO exhibits enhanced dimensional stability and resistance to sonication-induced fragmentation, yielding GO sheets with large lateral dimensions. These structural features endow the resulting aerogels with excellent mechanical and electrical properties, demonstrating their potential for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding and self-monitoring under harsh environmental conditions.
