Metal-based bacterial cellulose of sandwich nanomaterials for anti-oxidation electromagnetic interference shielding

In this work, bacterial cellulose was successively functionalized by magnetron sputtering and RF reactive sputtering with copper (Cu) and Al 2 O 3 to endow it with unique anti-oxidation electromagnetic shielding properties while concomitantly improving hydrophobic, mechanical, and thermal properties. The surface topographies and chemical properties of BC/Cu/Al 2 O 3 nanocomposites were examined by different analysis instruments to conclusively testify that metal-based nanoparticles were evenly deposited on the surfaces. This sandwich structure of the nanocomposites enhanced their thermal stability, hydrophobicity , mechanical properties , and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE). EMI effects of these nanocomposites were also investigated by the four-point probe, uniaxial testing machine and a vector network analyzer (VNA). The results indicated that the sandwich nanoscale materials showed good mechanical properties (41.3   Mpa) and excellent EMI shielding (65.3   dB).