(1. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China) （2. Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China)
With the rapid development of modern electronic information technology, electromagnetic radiation and pollution seriously disturb the normal work of precision electronic components, and directly endanger information security and human health. Polymer-based electromagnetic shielding materials can effectively prevent electromagnetic radiation and pollution, but the current usage environment puts forward strict requirements for low reflection, high absorption, broadband and structure/function integration. The development of multi-element composite structure is an effective way to solve these problems. Based on the shielding mechanism of materials to electromagnetic waves, the porous composite structure, heterogeneous composite structure, multi-layer composite structure, gradient composite structure and metastructure of polymer-based electromagnetic shielding materials, as well as the latest research progress of design, preparation technology and electromagnetic loss mechanism of these types of multi-component composite structures, were mainly introduced. Moreover, the future development of multi-element composite structures was prospected. This review may provide suggestions for the structural design and preparation of novel broadband electromagnetic shielding composites with thin thickness, light density, wide effective band and strong absorption.