3D Seed-Germination-Like MXene with In Situ Growing CNTs/Ni Heterojunction for Enhanced Microwave Absorption via Polarization and Magnetization

• Published in: Nano-micro letters 2021-12, Vol.13 (1), p.157-157, Article 157
• Main Authors: Li, Xiao, You, Wenbin, Xu, Chunyang, Wang, Lei, Yang, Liting, Li, Yuesheng, Che, Renchao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Dielectrics; Engineering; Germination; Heterojunctions; Impedance matching; Magnetic coupling network; Microwave absorbers; Microwave absorption; Microwave absorption and EMI shielding; Multilayers; MXene; MXenes; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Polarization; Seeds; Soils; Substrates; Synergistic effect; Three dimensional composites; Two-dimensional materials
• ISSN: 2311-6706; 2150-5551
• DOI: 10.1007/s40820-021-00680-w

Highlights Benefiting from the possible “seed-germination” effect, the “seeds” Ni 2+ grow into “buds” Ni nanoparticles and “stem” carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the enlarged “soil” of MXene skeleton. Compared with the traditional magnetic agglomeration, the MXene-CNTs/Ni hybrids exhibit the highly spatial dispersed magnetic architecture. 3D MXene-CNTs/Ni composites hold excellent microwave absorption performance (−56.4 dB at only 2.4 mm). Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene is widely regarded as a potential microwave absorber due to its dielectric multi-layered structure. However, missing magnetic loss capability of pure MXene leads to the unmatched electromagnetic parameters and unsatisfied impedance matching condition. Herein, with the inspiration from dielectric-magnetic synergy, this obstruction is solved by fabricating magnetic CNTs/Ni hetero-structure decorated MXene substrate via a facile in situ induced growth method. Ni 2+ ions are successfully attached on the surface and interlamination of each MXene unit by intensive electrostatic adsorption. Benefiting from the possible “seed-germination” effect, the “seeds” Ni 2+ grow into “buds” Ni nanoparticles and “stem” carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the enlarged “soil” of MXene skeleton. Due to the improved impedance matching condition, the MXene-CNTs/Ni hybrid holds a superior microwave absorption performance of − 56.4 dB at only 2.4 mm thickness. Such a distinctive 3D architecture endows the hybrids: (i) a large-scale 3D magnetic coupling network in each dielectric unit that leading to the enhanced magnetic loss capability, (ii) a massive multi-heterojunction interface structure that resulting in the reinforced polarization loss capability, confirmed by the off-axis electron holography. These outstanding results provide novel ideas for developing magnetic MXene-based absorbers.