Preparation and properties of novel binary and ternary highly amorphous poly(vinyl alcohol)-based composites with hybrid nanofillers

Smart protective coatings and devices are currently of great interest. In particular, they can absorb or reflect harmful waves of electromagnetic interference (EMI). In this work, novel binary and ternary composites with highly amorphous poly(vinyl alcohol) (HAVOH) as a matrix and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and MXenes as nanofillers were prepared. HAVOH is a recently patented kind of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) that was modified with diol monomers. MXenes are a new type of inorganic two-dimensional (2D) nanoparticle consisting of carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides. Three series of composites, HAVOH/SWCNTs, HAVOH/MXenes and HAVOH/SWCNTs/MXenes, were prepared using the solvent casting method. Samples were tested with various methods to study their structure, electrical properties, thermal behavior and EMI-shielding properties. HAVOH/3.0 wt.% SWCNTs/3.0 wt.% MXene specimens revealed a shielding effectiveness of 55 dB, which is 122 times better than that of the neat matrix. These results are promising for the fabrication of films with protective effects against EMI.