Electromagnetic wave absorption properties of porous carbon nanocomposite prepared by explosion method derived from energetic CuFe-MOF

An energetic heteronuclear metal–organic framework (MOF), denoted as {[CuIIFeIII3O(tza)6(H2O)3]·Cl·(NO3)2·4H2O}n (CuFe-MOF), was successfully synthesized and characterized using various techniques, including single-crystal X-ray diffractometry (XRD), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), and scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). The compound crystallized in the P63m space group, forming an infinite 3D cationic network composed of [Fe3O(tza)6]+ clusters and Cu2+ ions. Subsequently, we transformed CuFe-MOF into porous carbon nanocomposites, C/Cu/Fe3N/Fe4N/Fe3O4/CuFe2O4, using an explosion method. We then investigated the electromagnetic wave (EMW) attenuation properties and mechanisms of the carbon nanocomposite. Notably, the synthesized C/Cu/Fe3N/Fe4N/Fe3O4/CuFe2O4 composite material demonstrated exceptional EMW absorption. At a low frequency of 4.1 GHz with a thickness of 5.0 mm, it achieved a minimum reflection loss (RL) of −47.7 dB. Even at a high frequency of 17.8 GHz and a thickness of 1.5 mm, the minimum RL reached −41.8 dB. Moreover, this material exhibited a wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB; RL ≤ −10 dB) spanning 14.9 GHz (3.1–18 GHz) for thicknesses between 1.0 and 5.5 mm. These attributes position the carbon composite as a strong candidate for absorption applications within the Ku, X, and C bands, making it suitable for both military and civilian usage. Our mechanistic analysis suggests that the excellent absorption performance of C/Cu/Fe3N/Fe4N/Fe3O4/CuFe2O4 results from a combination of mechanisms, including electrical and magnetic loss. This research introduces an innovative approach for the fabrication of high-performance carbon composite materials via the explosive method, utilizing multinuclear energetic materials.