Three-dimensional carbon foam modified with starlike-ZnO@reduced graphene oxide for microwave absorption with low filler content

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2022-03, Vol.897, p.163200, Article 163200
• Main Authors: Zhang, Qiancheng, Du, Zuojuan, Guo, Tong, Huang, Xiaozhong, Zhu, Ting, Tang, Xiu-Zhi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon-based composites foam; Crystallization; Dip coatings; Excellent microwave absorbing performance; Fillers; Graphene; Immersion coating; Impedance matching; Impendence matching; Low filler content; Matrix materials; Microwave absorbers; Microwave absorption; Paraffins; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.163200

•Three-dimensional carbon-based foams decorated with starlike-ZnO@reduced graphene oxide (MF/ZnO@G) have been prepared.•Excellent microwave absorption is due to excellent impedance matching, multiple polarization and reflection.•With only a 5 wt% filler ratio, the maximum reflection loss of MF/ZnO@G is -63.2 dB with an EAB of 6.2 GHz. Lowering the content of wave-absorbing fillers in composites can not only reduce the fabrication cost but preserve the processibility of matrix materials. Herein, via an in-situ crystallization combined with a dip-coating method, carbon-based composite foams decorated with ZnO@reduced graphene oxide (MF/ZnO@G) were prepared as microwave absorbers. Benefiting from the excellent impedance matching, elaborately constructed multiple polarization, and multiple reflections, the paraffin-based composite (4.1 mm in thickness) with 5 wt% MF/ZnO@G foam exhibited outstanding microwave absorption performance with a maximum reflection loss of − 63.2 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.2 GHz. This work provides a facile and efficient engineering strategy to fabricate high-performance microwave absorbers with low filler content.