Ultrathin MXene film interaction with electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range.

This article focuses on the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance of ultrathin films of Ti₃C₂Tₓ, a two-dimensional titanium carbide MXene. The study demonstrates that 4 nm-thick Ti₃C₂Tₓ films achieve up to 50% absorption of electromagnetic waves in the X-band frequency range (8.2–12.4 GHz) due to impedance matching with free space, with absorption decreasing and reflection dominating as thickness increases. Measurements of sheet impedance and conductivity reveal that the films exhibit high bulk in-plane conductivity (~1.3 × 10⁶ S/m) consistent across direct current (DC) and microwave frequencies, supporting a charge transport mechanism described by the Drude model that extends up to terahertz (THz) frequencies. The findings suggest that Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene films, which are easily deposited from solution and composed of abundant elements, offer a promising, cost-effective alternative to noble metals like gold for broadband EMI shielding in microscale, flexible, and wearable electronic devices.