Lightweight, flexible rCEF@PPy/MXene for ultra-efficient EMI shielding felt with Joule heating performance

•The multifunctional felt are prepared by an easy and cost-effective method.•The PPy as bridges is a benefit for tightly anchoring MXene on rCFs.•The rCEF@PPy/MXene exhibit ultrahigh EMI shielding effectiveness.•The rCEF@PPy/MXene exhibit excellent Joule heating performance. Lightweight, flexible and multifunctional characteristics have attracted widespread attention in recent years for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials in the field of portable electronics. In this work, conductive polymer PPy and MXene nanosheets were anchored on the surface of the recycled carbon felts fixed with ES fibers (rCEF@PPy/MXene) to construct porous conductive networks, resulting in high conductivity, excellent EMI shielding property (60 dB) and electro-thermal conversion abilities. The rCEF@PPy/MXene shows great potential for wearable devices and heat management, together with promoting the sustainable reuse of waste carbon fiber resources.