Robust Ti₃C₂T_x MXene foam modified with natural antioxidants for long-term effective electromagnetic interference shielding

MXenes have been proven to be outstanding lossy phase of advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. However, their poor tolerance to oxygen and water results in fast degradation of the pristine two-dimensional (2D) nanostructure and fading of the functional performance. Herein, in this research, natural antioxidants (e.g., melatonin, tea polyphenols, and phytic acid) were employed to protect the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene from its degradation in order to achieve a long-term stability of the EMI shielding performance. The results showed that the synthesized composites comprised of antioxidants and Ti₃C₂T_x exhibited a decelerating degradation rate resulting in an improved EMI shielding effective (SE) stability. The antioxidation mechanism of the applied antioxidants is discussed with respect to the nanostructure evolution of the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene. This work contributes to the basic foundations for the further development of advanced MXenes for stable applications in the EM field.