Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of nickel-plated MWCNTs/high-density polyethylene composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were nickel (Ni)-plated chemically to enhance the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI-SE) of Ni-MWCNTs/High-density polyethylene composites (Ni-MWCNTs/HDPE). The surface properties of the Ni-MWCNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The EMI-SE of the Ni-MWCNTs/HDPE was tested by a EMI shielding analyzer. The EMI-SE of 3-MWCNTs/HDPE and 3-MWCNTs (30-Ni) showed approximately 5 and 12 dB at 1.0 GHz, respectively. The EMI-SE of Ni-MWCNTs/HDPE was enhanced compared to that of as-received MWCNTs/HDPE. Our results indicate that the Ni-MWCNTs can lead to a EMI-SE improvement due to the EMI adsorption behavior of the nickel particles.