The research team led by Dr. Byeongjin Park and Dr. Sang Bok Lee at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) has made a remarkable advancement by developing the world’s first ultra-thin film composite material that absorbs over 99% of electromagnetic waves across various frequency bands, including 5G/6G, WiFi, and autonomous driving radar, all from a single material.
This remarkable invention, measuring less than 0.5mm thick, stands out with an exceptional reflectance of under 1% and an impressive absorbance of over 99% across three distinct frequency bands.
Electromagnetic waves emitted from electronic components can create significant interference, degrading the performance of nearby devices. To combat this issue, electromagnetic shielding materials are essential. However, traditional shielding often reflects over 90% of incoming waves, resulting in an absorbance rate as low as 10%. Furthermore, these materials typically restrict their effectiveness to a single frequency band.
To tackle these shortcomings, our innovative research team has engineered a groundbreaking composite material that excels at absorbing electromagnetic waves across multiple frequency bands simultaneously. This advanced technology effectively eliminates interference, addressing critical secondary impacts.
Remarkably, the material is not only thin and flexible but also incredibly durable, maintaining its integrity even after thousands of folds. This makes it an ideal solution for next-generation rollable phones and wearable devices, setting a new standard in electromagnetic protection.
The team has successfully developed an innovative magnetic material by modifying the crystal structure of ferrite, allowing it to selectively absorb targeted frequencies with precision. They created an ultra-thin polymer composite film and strategically incorporated conductive patterns on the backside to effectively control the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
By fine-tuning the shape of these conductive patterns, they achieved a significant reduction in electromagnetic wave reflection at specific frequencies. Moreover, a carbon nanotube thin film, renowned for its exceptional shielding properties, was added to the back, further enhancing the material’s capabilities in shielding against unwanted electromagnetic interference.
“As the applications of 5G/6G communications continue to expand, the importance of electromagnetic wave absorption and shielding materials is growing,” Senior Researcher Byeongjin Park of KIMS, who led the project, commented. “This material has the potential to significantly improve the reliability of wireless communication devices such as smartphones and autonomous vehicle radars.”
Journal reference:
- Byeongjin Park, Sosan Hwang, Horim Lee, Yeonsu Jung, Taehoon Kim, Suk Jin Kwon, Dawoon Jung, Sang-bok Lee. Absorption-Dominant Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding across Multiple mmWave Bands Using Conductive Patterned Magnetic Composite and Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube Film. Advanced Functional Materials, 2024; DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202406197
