P-doped PANI/AgMWs nano/micro coating towards high-efficiency flame retardancy and electromagnetic interference shielding

With the rapid development of 5G technology, functional coatings with both high-efficiency flame retardancy and electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) are urgently needed, while traditional inefficient methods have encountered bottlenecks. Herein, we demonstrate an eco-friendly and multifunctional nano/micro coating constructed by biomass phytic acid (PA) induced polymerization and self-assembly of polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles and dip-coating of silver microwires (AgMWs). In this design, PA with high flame-retardant efficiency is smartly doped into PANI to achieve P-N synergistic flame retardancy and improve electrical conductivity of PANI simultaneously. Consequently, under the coaction of AgMWs, P-doped PANI nanoparticles, as well as unique continuous micro-nano structures, the nano/micro coating can endow commercial polyurethane (PU) foams with outstanding EMI shielding performance (∼51 dB in X-band). Meanwhile, the coated PU foam exhibits high flame retardancy due to the P-N synergistic effect of PA/PANI, which self-extinguishes immediately after ignition during the UL-94 vertical burning test, shows a high limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 34.8%, and exhibits a 50.7% lower peak heat release rate compared with pure PU foam. Further, the functional nano/micro coating with three-dimensional and highly porous structure makes the foam thermally insulating and infrared stealthing. The eco-friendliness and simplicity of this method and its successful application in commercial PU foam make it potentially applicable for the preparation of various kinds of multifunctional EMI shielding materials.