A new class of electromagnetic shields based on carbon dots adorning Te nanorods embedded into PEDOT:PSS for protection from electromagnetic (EM) pollutions

Environmental pollutions, especially those caused by the electromagnetic radiations, are considered one of the most challenging issues facing today's world. Therefore, shields based on polymeric nanocomposites have had much concern nowadays. In this regard, a new class of conducting films based on Carbon dots (Cdots) adorned Telluride (Te) Nanorods incorporated into Poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulphonate) (CTe/PEDOT:PSS) nanocomposite has been fabricated for the shielding applications in the frequency regime 8–12 GHz. The impact of synergistic effect of Cdots and Te on surface morphology, electrical and electromagnetic interference features has been studied according to the matrix (CxTe10-x), where x is the Cdots concentration. A brilliant distribution, high dispersion, good adhesion features and excellent compatibility of CTe nanoparticles have been obtained in the PEDOT:PSS according to SEM. At x = 8 wt%, the nanocomposite CTe/PEDOT:PSS has recorded a high in plane σ// = 237.87 ± 5 S/cm owing to the high packing of PEDOT nano-crystallites in the shield and a high out plane σ⊥ = 200.52 ± 4 S/cm thanks to the increase in the carrier mobility and the formation of CTe conductive paths. The SET ~ 63.17 dB has been achieved at 8 GHz for x = 8 wt% thanks to the high σ and the synergistic effect of Cdots and Te. The higher SET value of the obtained films makes these composites compete the higher class of shields especially with the use of tiny amount of C8Te2 nanoparticles. The absorption is the main shielding effectiveness mechanism in this composite. Finally, this study introduces a new, conductive, and an excellent EM wave absorber nanocomposite based on PEDOT:SS, Cdots and Te nano-rods. It has been predicted that the CTe/PEDOT:PSS shields have a prospective applications in biological, microwave shielding, electronic and wearable apparatuses at an affordable cost. [Display omitted] •A new class of conducting films based on (CTe/PEDOT:PSS) has been engineered for the EMI shielding in the 8–12 GHz•CTe/PEDOT:PSS has recorded a high σ// = 237.87 ± 5 S/cm and σ⊥ = 200.52 ± 4 S/cm at x = 8 wt%•The SET ~63.17 dB (99.99999952% blocking) has been achieved at 8 GHz for x = 8 wt%