Researchers at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) have developed a composite material capable of absorbing more than 99 per cent of electromagnetic waves across multiple frequencies.

Could Transform Many Industries

In an era where technology and sustainability must progress hand-in-hand, the ground-breaking ultra-thin, flexible film could transform industries ranging from energy and telecommunications to defence and environmental health, perhaps marking a major milestone in sustainable materials science.

What Is This New Material?

The researchers achieved this breakthrough by synthesising a unique magnetic composite material and incorporating it into a polymer film with double-sided conductive patterns. Three critical components underpin the material’s success:

– Magnetic Composite Layer (MCL). Synthesised by altering the crystal structure of ferrites, this layer exhibits strong ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) properties, enabling high absorption of electromagnetic waves at specific frequencies.

– Conductive Patterned Grid (CPG). Designed as a precisely engineered filter, the grid transmits electromagnetic waves at certain resonant frequencies while minimising reflection.

– Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube Film (DWCNTF). This film works as the primary absorber, dissipating the trapped waves through conduction losses and enhancing overall shielding effectiveness.

Together, these layers create a material that is not only ultra-thin and flexible but also robust enough to withstand 5,000 bending cycles without compromising performance. Its flexible nature makes it ideal for emerging technologies such as foldable smartphones, rollable displays, and wearable devices.

What Makes This Material Special?

The new material developed by KIMS researchers is so special because it essentially redefines electromagnetic interference (EMI) management with its ultra-thin, flexible design (less than 0.5 mm thick) and an extraordinary ability to absorb over 99 per cent of electromagnetic waves from sources like 5G/6G communications, Wi-Fi signals, and radar systems. Unlike conventional shielding materials, which reflect waves and inadvertently create secondary interference, this material captures and dissipates waves, effectively eliminating electromagnetic pollution.

Its dual capability of ultra-low reflectance (less than 1 per cent) and high absorbance across three distinct frequency bands makes it uniquely suited to mitigate electromagnetic pollution while enhancing the performance of devices reliant on electromagnetic waves. This contrasts sharply with traditional materials, such as metals and carbon-based films, which achieve high shielding through reflection but suffer from inefficiency, secondary pollution, and limitations in high-frequency applications like millimetre-wave (mmWave) technologies.

By adopting an absorption-dominant approach, the KIMS material converts electromagnetic waves into heat or dissipates them through conduction losses, providing a more sustainable and effective solution. As Senior Researcher Byeongjin Park explains, “Conventional shielding materials reflect over 90% of electromagnetic waves, with an absorbance often as low as 10%. Our new composite overcomes these limitations by absorbing and eliminating electromagnetic waves entirely, significantly improving the reliability of wireless communication devices.”

Key Features and Benefits

The composite material’s features and benefits extend far beyond traditional shielding technologies. These include:

– Triple resonant absorption. The material demonstrates ultra-low reflection and high absorption at three distinct frequency bands, including frequencies used in 5G communication, autonomous vehicle radar systems, and wireless gigabit communication. It achieves a total shielding effectiveness (SET) of 70 dB (equivalent to 99.99999 per cent shielding) with less than 1 per cent reflection.

– Flexibility and durability. Its thin, lightweight design ensures easy integration into next-generation devices, while its durability allows repeated folding and bending without degradation, making it ideal for applications in rollable electronics.

– Wide frequency coverage. The material works across mmWave frequency bands, which are critical for advanced communications and radar technologies.

– Environmental advantages. By absorbing rather than reflecting electromagnetic waves, it mitigates secondary interference and electromagnetic pollution, reducing both environmental and health concerns.

Potential Applications

The implications and applications of this material are vast, potentially offering solutions across numerous industries while addressing key sustainability challenges. For example, these could include:

– Enhancing renewable energy systems. The material’s ability to absorb and manage electromagnetic waves efficiently could significantly improve the performance of renewable energy systems. For instance, integrating it into solar panels might allow the capture of a broader spectrum of light, increasing energy conversion rates. Also, it could be used in solar thermal systems to better harness and store energy as heat.

– Revolutionising consumer electronics. With the rapid growth of IoT devices, wearables, and flexible electronics, the demand for compact, efficient EMI shielding solutions has never been higher. This material could ensure these devices operate without interference, consume less power, and last longer. Imagine a world where your smartphone or smartwatch no longer suffers from signal loss or energy inefficiency due to interference.

– Supporting wireless energy harvesting. Ambient electromagnetic waves from Wi-Fi routers, cellular networks, and radio signals could be captured and converted into usable energy for low-power devices. This could open up possibilities for powering IoT sensors, reducing reliance on batteries, and enabling the development of sustainable smart cities.

– Tackling electromagnetic pollution. The material’s unique absorption properties address the growing concern of electromagnetic pollution, a by-product of our increasingly wireless world. By reducing stray waves in urban areas, it could improve environmental health while boosting the performance of critical communication systems.

– Advancing communication technologies. In telecommunications, managing signal propagation with minimal energy loss is crucial. This material could enhance the efficiency of network infrastructure, reduce data transmission costs, and improve signal clarity for technologies such as autonomous driving and drone communication.

– Defence and security. The material’s ability to absorb electromagnetic waves makes it a natural fit for stealth technology, where radar invisibility is paramount. Beyond military applications, it could be used to safeguard sensitive information by preventing electromagnetic eavesdropping.

– Industrial efficiency. From optimising microwave-based manufacturing processes to enhancing heat dissipation in high-performance electronics, this material offers ways to reduce energy consumption and improve the efficiency of industrial operations.

– Sustainable building design. Its heat absorption capabilities could be leveraged in construction, where it might enable passive heating solutions. By capturing and releasing heat as needed, it could reduce dependence on artificial heating and cooling systems.

Why This Innovation Matters for Sustainability

Beyond its immediate technical merits, this material represents a step towards more sustainable technologies. By enhancing energy efficiency, reducing electromagnetic pollution, and supporting the development of cleaner electronic devices, it aligns with the global push for greener, more responsible innovation.

Also, the researchers’ focus on scalability ensures its accessibility for widespread application. The material has already been patented in multiple countries and licensed to domestic manufacturers, with plans to integrate it into real-world devices and systems.

Dr Byeongjin Park summarised its significance: “This material has the potential to transform how we think about electromagnetic wave management. As 5G and 6G communications expand, so too does the need for materials that can improve device reliability and minimise environmental impact. Our innovation is a step forward in achieving these goals.”

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

The development of this composite material could represent a significant step forward in both materials science and sustainability. Its innovative ability to absorb over 99 per cent of electromagnetic waves while remaining ultra-thin, flexible, and durable appears to make it uniquely positioned to address some of the most pressing challenges in technology and environmental health.

This material’s absorption-dominant design directly confronts the longstanding issues associated with traditional EMI shielding, such as secondary electromagnetic pollution and inefficiency at higher frequencies. By converting unwanted electromagnetic waves into heat or dissipating them entirely, it reduces interference, enhances device performance, and contributes to the reliability of critical technologies like 5G/6G communications, autonomous vehicles, and IoT devices. The fact that it achieves this while being less than 0.5 mm thick and resistant to wear from repeated bending is nothing short of remarkable.

What truly sets this breakthrough apart, however, is its potential for wide-ranging applications. From revolutionising renewable energy systems to tackling the growing concern of electromagnetic pollution, this material stands out as potentially being a versatile solution with real-world impact. For example, its role in enhancing wireless energy harvesting could redefine urban sustainability, while its ability to improve energy efficiency in consumer electronics and industrial processes offers an opportunity to significantly reduce waste and resource consumption.

Also, the material’s potential in defence, secure communication, and sustainable construction illustrates its adaptability across diverse fields. Its capacity to absorb electromagnetic waves for stealth purposes, enhance thermal management in buildings, and even optimise industrial manufacturing processes demonstrates its vast applicability. Each of these use cases highlights how the material aligns with the global shift towards technologies that not only perform better but also contribute to sustainability goals.

The researchers’ efforts to ensure scalability and accessibility further highlight the importance of this innovation. By licensing the technology for practical applications and securing patents internationally, the KIMS team hopes to have laid the groundwork for integrating this material into mainstream industries. Such a forward-thinking approach may ensure that its benefits can be realised on a global scale, potentially making it a true enabler of sustainable progress.

In a world increasingly reliant on electromagnetic wave-based technologies, the need for efficient, environmentally friendly solutions is critical. This composite material looks as though it not only addresses that need but does so in a way that could open the door to a new era of sustainable innovation. Looking ahead, as its adoption expands, it has the potential to redefine industries, improve energy efficiency, and reduce the environmental footprint of modern technology.