Abstract
The rapid development of 5G/6G communications, artificial intelligence, and aerospace technologies has created increasingly dynamic electromagnetic environments, challenging conventional static electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. Smart EMI shielding materials provide a promising approach to adaptive electromagnetic protection by dynamically regulating electromagnetic transmission, reflection, and dissipation in response to external stimuli. This Perspective discusses recent progress in mechanically, thermally, and electrically regulated EMI shielding materials, with emphasis on their underlying mechanisms and limitations. Despite these advances, most reported systems rely on predefined stimulus–response relationships and remain unable to adapt autonomously to changing environments. Future opportunities lie in integrating multiple stimuli, environmental adaptation, artificial intelligence, bioinspired architectures, and programmable structures to achieve more precise and versatile electromagnetic regulation. Such developments could shift EMI shielding from passive protection with fixed attenuation toward adaptive electromagnetic management for next-generation communication, electronic, and aerospace technologies.
Highlights
