Electromagnetic Characterization of a Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes-Silver Nanoparticles-Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol Hybrid Nanocomposite in X-Band Frequency

Yusliza Yusof; Seyedehmaryam Moosavi; Mohd Rafie Johan; Irfan Anjum Badruddin; Yasmin Abdul Wahab; Nor Aliya Hamizi; Marlinda Ab Rahman; Sarfaraz Kamangar; T M Yunus Khan

doi:10.1021/acsomega.0c04864

Electromagnetic Characterization of a Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes-Silver Nanoparticles-Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol Hybrid Nanocomposite in X-Band Frequency

ACS Omega. 2021 Feb 3;6(6):4184-4191. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04864. eCollection 2021 Feb 16.

Authors

Yusliza Yusof¹, Seyedehmaryam Moosavi¹, Mohd Rafie Johan¹, Irfan Anjum Badruddin^{2

3}, Yasmin Abdul Wahab¹, Nor Aliya Hamizi¹, Marlinda Ab Rahman¹, Sarfaraz Kamangar³, T M Yunus Khan³

Affiliations

¹ Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center (NANOCAT), University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur 50603 Malaysia.
² Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Asir, Kingdom Saudi Arabia.
³ Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Asir, Kingdom Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

This study presents the electromagnetic (EM) characterization of a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)-silver nanoparticles (AgNP)-reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hybrid nanocomposite fabricated via the solution mixing technique. Primarily, the structure and morphological properties of the PVA/MWCNT-AgNP hybrid nanocomposite are confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The complex permittivity (ε*) and permeability (μ*), as well as the electromagnetic scattering parameters are measured using a PNA network analyzer equipped with X-band waveguide. The results showed an enhanced permittivity (ε' ≈ 25) value of the hybrid nanocomposite in the frequency range of 8-12 GHz. However, the permeability decreased to almost zero (μ' ≈ 0.4) since the inclusion of AgNP with an average particle size of 40 nm is not susceptible to magnetization and causes higher magnetic losses (tan δ_μ) than dielectric losses (tan δ_ε). Remarkably, the hybrid nanocomposite reduced transmission of electromagnetic (EM) wave by nearly 60% in comparison to PVA/MWCNT. This is attributed to the enhanced absorption and reflection at the nanotubes, and metal-dielectric interfaces have induced multiple internal reflections owing to the porous structure of the nanocomposite. The prospect of the PVA/MWCNT-AgNP hybrid nanocomposite is favorable as a thin absorbing material for EM shielding applications.