Controllable fabrication of mono-dispersed RGO–hematite nanocomposites and their enhanced wave absorption properties

Novel RGO–hematite nanocomposites have been successfully fabricated using a surfactant-governed approach in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) under mild wet chemical conditions (105 °C). A series of characterization methods including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the as-prepared single-crystal hematite particles with relatively uniform size are embedded in RGO layers to form unique quasi shell–core nanostructures. The microwave absorption properties of the RGO–hematite composites were studied in detail; as an absorber, the RGO–hematite nanocomposites possess excellent microwave absorbing properties. The enhanced microwave absorbing properties were also explained based on the structures of the nanocomposites.