Constructing gradient reflection and scattering porous framework in composite aerogels for enhanced microwave absorption

Tianyi Hang; Lijie Zhou; Zhihui Li; Yifan Zheng; Youqiang Yao; Yuxuan Cao; Chenhui Xu; Shaohua Jiang; Yiming Chen; Jiajia Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121777

Constructing gradient reflection and scattering porous framework in composite aerogels for enhanced microwave absorption

Carbohydr Polym. 2024 Apr 1:329:121777. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121777. Epub 2024 Jan 9.

Authors

Tianyi Hang¹, Lijie Zhou², Zhihui Li¹, Yifan Zheng¹, Youqiang Yao¹, Yuxuan Cao¹, Chenhui Xu¹, Shaohua Jiang³, Yiming Chen⁴, Jiajia Zheng⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
² Yongkang Hardware Technician College, Jinhua 321300, China.
³ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China. Electronic address: yiming.chen@zjnu.edu.cn.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Urban Rail Transit Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China. Electronic address: jiajia.zheng@zjnu.cn.

PMID: 38286548
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121777

Abstract

Developing high-performance microwave absorption (MA) materials becomes an urgent concern in the field of electromagnetic protection. Constructing porous framework is an efficient approach to MA owing to the abilities of adjusting impedance matching and providing more reflection and scattering paths for electromagnetic waves. Herein, a cellulose nanofibril (CNF)/honeycomb-like carbon-shell encapsulated FeCoNi@C/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite aerogel was fabricated via a facile freeze-drying method. The super-lightweight composites showed a distinctive gradient structure for reflection and scattering inside aerogel pores, micrometer small pores, and nano-fillers on the pore walls. The composite aerogel showed an ideal minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of -43.6 dB and remarkable adjustable effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 12.18 GHz due to good impedance matching, unique gradient porous structure, and synergies of multiple loss mechanisms. Therefore, this work will provide a viable strategy to improve the MA capability of absorbers by taking full advantage of constructing gradient reflection and scattering porous structure.

Keywords: Cellulose nanofibril; Composite aerogel; Gradient structure; Microwave absorption.