Crucial role of structural design on performance of cryogel-based EMI shields: an experimental review

In the field of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding with materials based on highly porous constructs, such as foams, cryogels, aerogels and xerogels, a significant challenge lies in designing structures that primarily absorb rather than reflect incident electromagnetic waves (EMWs). This goal necessitates a dual focus on the electrical conductivity and the internal porosity of the given porous material. To explore these issues, we fabricated various graphene oxide (GO)-based cryogels by molding, emulsion templating, chemically-induced gelation, freeze-casting, and liquid-in-liquid streaming. Following thermal annealing to enhance electrical conductivity for effective EMI shielding, we assessed the physicochemical, mechanical and structural characteristics of these cryogels. Notably, the cryogels exhibited distinct EMI shielding behaviors, varying significantly in terms of primary shielding mechanisms and overall shielding effectiveness (SE