In recent decades, electromagnetic shielding materials have become essential for blocking electromagnetic wave propagation through reflection and absorption. Traditional shielding materials – such as metals, conductive polymers and carbon‑based materials–often suffer from high weight, poor flexibility or high cost. Two‑dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) have attracted great attention because of their unique layered structure, excellent electrical conductivity and chemical stability. However, pure MXene films are typically brittle. Nanocellulose, derived from natural biomass, offers lightweight, high specific surface area and outstanding mechanical properties. Combining MXene with nanocellulose produces composites that are both highly conductive and mechanically robust, making them ideal candidates for next‑generation EMI shielding.
A review team led by Prof. Ming‑Guo Ma from Beijing Forestry University, China, has now provided a comprehensive and critical overview of MXene/nanocellulose composites for electromagnetic shielding. The review covers three core areas: preparation strategies, toughening mechanisms, and multidimensional structural design. Regarding preparation strategies, the authors systematically compare methods ranging from simple solution mixing and vacuum filtration to advanced techniques such as 3D printing, freeze‑drying, in‑situ biosynthesis, layer‑by‑layer assembly and electrospinning. The advantages and limitations of each method are discussed, with a special focus on trade‑offs between mechanical strength and shielding effectiveness.
On toughening mechanisms, the review classifies them into physical toughening (hydrogen bonding, physical entanglement, metal‑ion crosslinking and architectural construction), chemical toughening (covalent bonding via agents such as polydopamine or PMDI) and synergistic toughening. The authors highlight how combining reversible physical bonds with permanent covalent networks yields composites with exceptional strength, toughness and stability. In terms of structural design, the review examines 1D fibers (electro-spun and wet‑spun), 2D layered assemblies (monolayer, sandwich, Janus and biomimetic films) and 3D network architectures (foams, aerogels and hydrogels). Each structure offers a different shielding mechanism – reflection‑dominant for dense 2D films, absorption‑dominant for porous 3D aerogels, and a balanced performance for hydrogels. The review also provides a comprehensive data comparison and summarizes the mechanical and EMI shielding performance of representative composites.
Despite the rapid progress, several challenges remain: environmentally friendly MXene synthesis, long‑term stability under humid or high‑temperature conditions, scalable manufacturing, broad‑band shielding (from GHz to THz), and dynamic controllability of shielding performance. The review outlines promising future directions, including green etching methods, multifunctional integration (for example with magnetic or thermos-responsive components), and the development of smart shielding materials that can adapt to changing environments.
The team published their review in Nano Research on August 30, 2026.
“This review provides a holistic perspective that connects fabrication methods, toughening mechanisms and structural architectures,” said Prof. Ming-Guo Ma, the corresponding author. “It will greatly advance the rational design and practical application of high-performance MXene/nanocellulose electromagnetic shielding composites.”
Other contributors include Qi Liu, Jia-Qi Lang, and Lei Chen from the School of Materials Science and Technology at Beijing Forestry University, Prof. Chuanyin Xiong from College of Bioresources Chemical & Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Prof. Xiufu Hua from Institute of Low-Carbon Technology Application, School of Chemical and Engineering, Northwest University.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22478036).
About Author:
Prof. Dr. Ming-Guo Ma is a full professor and a group leader at Beijing Forestry University. He received his B.S. (2001) and M.S. (2005) in Chemistry from Shandong University. He completed his Ph.D. (2008) in Materials Physical Chemistry at the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is lecturer and co-author around 200 international scientific publications. His current research focuses on the synthesis, properties, and applications of the nanocellulose, biomass composites, flexible electronic sensors, and wearable energy storage devices.
DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908889
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 8,000 articles. In 2025 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2025 IF is 9.4 (8.3, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.
Nano Research
Flexible multifunctional MXene/nanocellulose nanocomposites for mechanical and electromagnetic shielding performance
30-Aug-2026