Vertically aligned porous MXene aerogel with multifunctional synergy for electromagnetic shielding, photothermal deicing, and oil/water separation

Aerogel materials are becoming increasingly popular. However, their multi-field applications in complex environments still face challenges. Here, a multifunctional MXene/BC/KH560 composite aerogel (MBKA) with excellent comprehensive properties was prepared using chemical cross-linking and directional freeze-drying technologies. This aerogel is characterized by its lightweight nature, favorable mechanical properties, and controllable surface wettability. Outstanding electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance and photothermal capabilities are endowed by the incorporation of MXene. MBKA achieves an EMI shielding effectiveness of 23.47 dB in the X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz). Additionally, it can heat up to 105.1 °C within 180 s under solar radiation. After hydrophobic modification, a high water contact angle (WCA > 150°) is exhibited by MBKA. Furthermore, its modified and optimized version is suitable for oil/water separation, with an oil absorption capacity ranging from 30.4 to 94.7 g g −1 . Owing to its remarkable photothermal conversion capability, ice formation is effectively prevented or removed by MBKA at −15 °C, with an extended ice delay time (64 min) and rapid photothermal de-icing (55 s) being demonstrated. Therefore, this work provides a valuable strategy for designing multifunctional composite aerogels, demonstrating broad prospects for multi-scenario applications in complex environments.