Beihang University Engineers Develop Hierarchical Modular Film Integrating Intelligent Thermal Control with Ultra-High EMI Shielding

Beihang University researchers develop a 35μm film with record EMI shielding and dual-mode heating for intelligent personal health and safety.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 4:08 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

Bridging Thermal Comfort and Electronic Safety

As the global demand for wearable electronics increases alongside a rise in extreme weather events, the need for personal thermal management and electromagnetic safety has reached a critical intersection. Historically, wearable devices have treated heat regulation and electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection as separate technical challenges, resulting in systems that are often bulky and inefficient. A research team from Beihang University, led by Professors Guang-Sheng Wang and Xiangyu Jiang, has addressed this by developing a hierarchical modular film that integrates environmental awareness with physical protection.

The Hierarchical Modular Design Strategy

The innovation relies on a "monitoring-feedback-protection" loop housed within a single flexible platform. This modular architecture allows for the functional decoupling of different components while maintaining overall synergy. By organizing the film into distinct layers, the researchers were able to optimize the system for multiple tasks: stable human-machine interaction at the front end, and high-performance temperature control and signal protection at the back end. This approach prevents the performance compromises typically associated with multi-functional integration in thin-film electronics.

Architectural Mechanics of the XM Film

The core of the system is the XSBR/MXene (XM) film, which utilizes a sandwich structure containing highly oriented MXene nanosheets. At the center, a dense conductive core with an orientation factor of 0.79 provides the primary EMI shielding and photothermal conversion capabilities. The outer layers feature a gradient distribution of MXene to facilitate low-power Joule heating. On the surface, the team anchored serpentine sensors made of PEDOT:PSS and PVA/KOH, which utilize ion migration and percolation effects to detect subtle changes in temperature and humidity.