MOF-Based Electromagnetic Shields Multiscale Design: Nanoscale Chemistry, Microscale Assembly, and Macroscale Manufacturing

The effects of electromagnetic (EM) radiation have received increased attention, closely associated with the widespread use of electronics and wireless communication. A significant development in the area is the recent adoption of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to effectively enable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. MOF tunable molecular scaffold architecture offers numerous pathways to generate customizable magnetic and electrical properties, which are prerequisite materials characteristics for efficient EMI shielding performance. Their flexibility in terms of structural design, accompanied by high porosity and large specific surface area, makes MOFs excellent candidates to shield EM waves at multiple scales. Herein, the crucial role of molecular-, nano-, micro-, and macro-scale structural design is reviewed in accordance with the shielding performance of MOFs. The current design strategies of MOF-based EMI shields are systematically outlined, and the shielding mechanisms are also expounded based on their structural features. The factors that hinder the widespread utilization of functional MOF-derived EMI shields are also examined. Future research directions are unveiled for the rational design of the next-generation MOF-based EMI shields to address the pressing EM radiation concerns.