A highly strong PEDOT modified wood towards efficient electromagnetic interference shielding

In the development of the modern electronics industry, the high mechanical performance, the green, and high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials need to urgently be developed. Herein, polythiophene/Wood (PEDOT/wood) was fabricated through in situ polymerizing thiophene in the delignified paulownia wood. The results indicated that PEDOT were evenly distributed on the carbohydrates framework of the wood, endowing the composite with a highly electrical conductivity of 112.8 S m−1 and a superior electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of 46.2 dB at 2 mm thickness. The normalized SE (EMI SE/thickness) of the composite calculated as 213 dB/cm. Meanwhile, a high compressive strength and tensile strength of the prepared PEDOT/wood composite were tested as 50.9 MPa and 67.8 MPa, respectively. Such a high conductivity, strong mechanical properties and renewable PEDOT/wood suggests it as a potential candidate for the application in electromagnetic interference shielding and paves a new way for the biomass-based electromagnetic shielding materials.