MXene coating could protect wearables from EMI

News

Engineers in the US have shown how fabrics coated in a 2D material called MXene can block potentially dangerous electromagnetic interference and radiation.

MXene was first discovered in 2011 by scientists at Philadelphia’s Drexel University. Its EMI-blocking properties were initially touted as an antidote to potential cyber threats like credit card cloning and laptop hacking. While those risks turned out to be exaggerated, the rise of wearable tech presents a new market opportunity for the material, shielding wearables form the EMI produced by smartphones.

Spray on MXene antennas turn surfaces into transmitters

"Wearable devices will need shielding from the electromagnetic interference (EMI) regularly produced by mobile devices, and that shielding should be integrated as part of the garment," said Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Bach professor at Drexel, who led research recently published in the materials science journal Carbon.

"We have known for some time that MXene has the ability to block electromagnetic interference better than other materials, but this discovery shows that it can effectively adhere to fabrics and maintain its unique shielding capabilities."

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.  

Benefits of registering

  • In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends

  • Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year

  • Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address