Gallic acid-mediated MXene in-situ deposition on silk textiles for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding and infrared thermal camouflage

GA molecules promote the ordered deposition of MXene on fibers, forming a continuous and stable conductive network. • ST-MG offers excellent flexibility, breathability, moisture permeability, and environmental stability. • Textiles with an EMI SE T value close to 50 dB, can shield 99.999% of incident electromagnetic waves. • Covering the surface of a heat source with textiles can lower the temperature measured by an IR detector by approximately 20°C. Personal protective textiles often face the challenges of complex manufacturing processes and poor comfort while striving to achieve functionality. Herein, through this simple and scalable strategy mediated by the natural polyphenolic compound gallic acid (GA), MXene nanosheets were deposited in situ onto the surface of silk textiles, successfully fabricating a personal protective textile (ST-MG) that combines exceptional functionality with wearability. The GA molecules can play a critical adhesive-like role, effectively promoting the uniform deposition of MXene nanosheets on the fiber surface, thereby forming a continuous and stable conductive network. The ST-MG textiles produced not only retain the excellent softness, breathability, and moisture permeability of natural silk but also demonstrate significantly improved conductivity stability. Importantly, when folded into four layers, the ST-MG achieves a shielding efficiency of nearly 50 dB, blocking 99.999% of incident electromagnetic waves; When placed over the surface of a heat source, it can reduce the infrared-detected temperature by approximately 20°C compared to the original fabric, demonstrating excellent potential for infrared thermal camouflage. This work provides a new approach to developing next-generation advanced textiles that combine wearability with multifunctional protection.