Identification of the Intrinsic Dielectric Properties of Metal Single Atoms for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Xinci Zhang; Yanan Shi; Jia Xu; Qiuyun Ouyang; Xiao Zhang; Chunling Zhu; Xiaoli Zhang; Yujin Chen

doi:10.1007/s40820-021-00773-6

Identification of the Intrinsic Dielectric Properties of Metal Single Atoms for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Nanomicro Lett. 2021 Dec 11;14(1):27. doi: 10.1007/s40820-021-00773-6.

Authors

Xinci Zhang¹, Yanan Shi¹, Jia Xu¹, Qiuyun Ouyang¹, Xiao Zhang², Chunling Zhu³, Xiaoli Zhang⁴, Yujin Chen^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of In-Fiber Integrated Optics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China.
² Key Laboratory of In-Fiber Integrated Optics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. zhangxiaochn@hrbeu.edu.cn.
³ College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. zhuchunling@hrbeu.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of In-Fiber Integrated Optics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. chenyujin@hrbeu.edu.cn.
⁶ College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. chenyujin@hrbeu.edu.cn.
⁷ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China. chenyujin@hrbeu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Atomically dispersed metals on N-doped carbon supports (M-N_xCs) have great potential applications in various fields. However, a precise understanding of the definitive relationship between the configuration of metal single atoms and the dielectric loss properties of M-N_xCs at the atomic-level is still lacking. Herein, we report a general approach to synthesize a series of three-dimensional (3D) honeycomb-like M-N_xC (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, or Ni) containing metal single atoms. Experimental results indicate that 3D M-N_xCs exhibit a greatly enhanced dielectric loss compared with that of the NC matrix. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the density of states of the d orbitals near the Fermi level is significantly increased and additional electrical dipoles are induced due to the destruction of the symmetry of the local microstructure, which enhances conductive loss and dipolar polarization loss of 3D M-N_xCs, respectively. Consequently, these 3D M-N_xCs exhibit excellent electromagnetic wave absorption properties, outperforming the most commonly reported absorbers. This study systematically explains the mechanism of dielectric loss at the atomic level for the first time and is of significance to the rational design of high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorbing materials containing metal single atoms.

Keywords: Dielectric loss behavior; Honeycomb-like N-doped nanocarbons; Lightweight absorbers; Metal single atoms; NaCl-templating method.