Alternating Multilayered Ti₃C₂T_x/Co Sandwich with Co Frosting for Superior Electromagnetic Wave Absorption...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• MXene-based wave-absorbing materials face challenges like sheet stacking and low dielectric loss.
• Existing materials often struggle with practical application due to agglomeration and poor electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a novel three-dimensional (3D) layered sandwich heterostructure using Ti3C2Tx MXene and cobalt (Co) crystals.
• To enhance the electromagnetic wave absorption properties and versatility of MXene-based materials.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 3D layered sandwich heterostructure with Ti3C2Tx MXene as the backbone and Co crystals as buttress and coating.
• Utilizing electrostatic and ion-dipole interactions to anchor Co crystals, preventing agglomeration and forming a uniform coating.
• Characterization of structural, electromagnetic, and stealth properties of the Ti3C2Tx/Co composites.

Main Results:

• Achieved excellent impedance matching and synergistic magnetic/dielectric properties due to nonhomogeneous interfacial structures.
• Optimized Ti3C2Tx/Co composite showed a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -49.57 dB at 2.5 mm thickness and an effective absorption bandwidth of 2.88 GHz.
• Demonstrated superior EWA capability with simulated radar-scattering cross-section (RCS) consistently below -15 dB m² across all angles and excellent infrared stealth performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D Ti3C2Tx/Co heterostructure effectively prevents agglomeration and enhances electromagnetic wave absorption.
• The composite exhibits outstanding EWA performance, low infrared emissivity, and excellent stealth capabilities.
• This study presents a new fabrication route for versatile and effective MXene-based EWA composite materials.