Fabric with MXene can block electromagnetic waves

Researchers at Drexel University have created “Faraday fabrics” that can block almost all electromagnetic waves. The development could help protect wearables from interference and people from potentially dangerous radiation. According to information from Drexel University, the key ingredient is a 2D material called MXene. 

Electromagnetic waves have proven incredibly useful, but with so many uses, interference in the airwaves can make connections unstable and interrupt the function of electronic devices. As such, vital components within devices are often wrapped in shielding materials that simply reflect the waves. The Drexel team had previously described how one particular MXene, titanium carbonitride, made an excellent EM-shielding material. Not only is it incredibly thin, but it absorbs signals rather than reflecting them. In the new study, the researchers found the MXene shielding’s use in fabrics that block electromagnetic waves. 

The research was published in the journal Carbon.