Constructing multi-interface Mo₂C/Co@C nanorods for a microwave response based on a double attenuation mechanism.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• Porous carbon-based Mo2C nanocomposites have shown promise for microwave absorption.
• Designing materials with multi-interfacial polarization and dual attenuation mechanisms is crucial for improved performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel one-dimensional (1D) Mo2C/Co@C nanorods (MCRs) with enhanced microwave absorbing properties.
• To investigate the effect of multi-interfaces and dual attenuation mechanisms on microwave absorption performance.

Main Methods:

• A facile hard template method using zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) as a coating layer.
• Formation of multi-interface nanorods incorporating dielectric Mo2C and magnetic Co within a carbon matrix.

Main Results:

• The MCRs exhibit a double attenuation mechanism due to dielectric (Mo2C, remaining carbon) and magnetic (Co) components.
• The nanorods demonstrate multi-interfacial polarization, large surface area, and highly isotropic dissipation.
• A minimum reflection loss (RL) of -47.98 dB was achieved at 35% sample loading.
• An effective bandwidth of 6.0 GHz (11.08–17.08 GHz) with RL < -10 dB was observed at a thickness of 1.6 mm.

Conclusions:

• The redesigned MCRs possess excellent microwave absorbing properties for practical applications.
• A universal and efficient method for synthesizing 1D microwave absorbers with multiple valuable interfaces was established.