Ultra-thin film “world’s first” absorbs more than 99% of electromagnetic waves

Scientists have developed a new material: an ultra-thin film that can absorb more than 99% of electromagnetic waves.

The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) says it is “the world’s first ultra-thin film composite material capable of absorbing more than 99% of electromagnetic waves.”

The material is less than half a millimeter thick, but can effectively protect against a wide range of frequencies, including those used in 5G, 6G, Wi-Fi and autonomous vehicle radars.

Unlike traditional shielding materials that reflect electromagnetic waves, this new material absorbs them, minimizing interference and improving the performance of electronic devices.

“As 5G/6G communications applications continue to expand, materials that absorb and shield electromagnetic waves are growing in importance,” said Byungjin Park, a senior researcher at KIMS who led the development.

Park added: “This material has the potential to significantly improve the reliability of wireless communications devices such as smartphones and autonomous vehicle radars.”

Need new material

Electronic devices can emit waves that interfere with other nearby devices, resulting in poor performance.

These invisible waves can cause interruptions, signal loss, and even security risks.

To reduce this interference, materials that protect against electromagnetic fields are used. These materials have the potential to absorb waves, which is considered more effective than simply reflecting them.

Conventional shielding materials mainly reflect electromagnetic waves, absorbing only a small part – 10%. Additionally, materials with higher absorption rates are often limited to a single frequency band.

To solve these problems, the team created a new material that can simultaneously absorb waves of different frequencies.

99% absorption

The material is very thin, flexible and durable. It can bend without breaking, making it ideal for foldable phones and wearable devices.

“The team synthesized a magnetic material by altering the crystal structure of ferrite, allowing it to selectively absorb desired frequencies,” the press release notes.

They then combined this material with a thin polymer film and added conductive structures to control wave propagation.

Finally, a carbon nanotube film was added to further improve the material’s protective properties.

“This material, which absorbs and shields electromagnetic waves, is less than 0.5 mm thick and features low reflectivity (less than 1%) and high absorption coefficient (more than 99%) in three different frequency ranges,” the press release states.

The research was supported by KIMS and the National Research Council of Science and Technology. The team has obtained patents domestically and internationally and has licensed the technology to several companies for use in real-world applications including communications devices and automobiles.

The results were published in the journal Advanced functional materials.