Developing MXenes from Wireless Communication to Electromagnetic Attenuation

Highlights The industrial application and foundational research of MXenes at gigahertz frequency are systematically reviewed.The design principles of “lightweight, wide, and strong” are specifically highlighted.Current challenges and future directions for MXenes in wireless communication and electromagnetic attenuation are outlined.
There is an urgent global need for wireless communication utilizing materials that can provide simultaneous flexibility and high conductivity. Avoiding the harmful effects of electromagnetic (EM) radiation from wireless communication is a persistent research hot spot. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are the preferred choice as wireless communication and EM attenuation materials as they are lightweight with high aspect ratios and possess distinguished electronic properties. MXenes, as a novel family of 2D materials, have shown excellent properties in various fields, owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical stability, high flexibility, and ease of processability. To date, research on the utility of MXenes for wireless communication has been actively pursued. Moreover, MXenes have become the leading materials for EM attenuation. Herein, we systematically review the recent advances in MXene-based materials with different structural designs for wireless communication, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and EM wave absorption. The relationship governing the structural design and the effectiveness for wireless communication, EMI shielding, and EM wave absorption is clearly revealed. Furthermore, our review mainly focuses on future challenges and guidelines for designing MXene-based materials for industrial application and foundational research.