MXene and graphene based thin, flexible and low-density composite were prepared by cost effective spray coating and solvent casting method. The fabricated composite was characterized using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The prepared composites showed hydrophobic nature with higher contact angle of 126°, −43 mN·m⁻¹ wetting energy, −116 mN·m⁻¹ spreading Coefficient and 30 mN·m⁻¹ lowest work of adhesion. The composites displayed excellent conductivity of 13.68 S·cm⁻¹ with 3.1 Ω·sq⁻¹ lowest sheet resistance. All the composites showed an outstanding thermal stability and constrain highest weight lost until 400 °C. The MXene-graphene foam exhibited excellent EMI shielding of 53.8 dB (99.999%) with reflection of 13.10 dB and absorption of 43.38 dB in 8–12.4 GHz. The single coated carbon fabric displayed outstanding absolute shielding effectiveness of 35,369.82 dB·cm²·g⁻¹. The above results lead perspective applications such as aeronautics, radars, air travels, mobile phones, handy electronics and military applications.

A series of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) coated carbon fabrics was fabricated using a facile dip coating process, and their performance in electrical conductivity, thermal stability, tensile strength, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and shielding effectiveness (SE) was investigated. A solution of MWCNT oxide and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in water was used in the coating process. MWCNTs were observed to coat the surfaces of carbon fibers and to fill the pores in the carbon fabric. Electrical conductivity of the composites was 16.42 S cm⁻¹. An EMI shielding effectiveness of 37 dB at 2 GHz was achieved with a single layer of C/C composites, whereas the double layers resulted in 68 dB EMI SE at 2.7 GHz. Fabricated composites had a specific SE of 486.54 dB cm³ g⁻¹ and an absolute SE of approximately 35,000 dB cm² g⁻¹. According to the above results, MWCNT coated C/C composites have the potential to be used in advanced shielding applications such as aerospace and auto mobile electronic devices.