MXene/cobalt ferrite/carbon materials based composites for efficient microwave absorption

In the present study, cobalt ferrite (CF) nanoparticles were in-situ grown on MXene/carbon-based materials (activated carbon (AC), MWCNT, and GO) to develop composites via facile hydrothermal route. The MXene/CF/MWCNTs composite (FMCNT4) achieved an excellent maximum reflection loss (RLmax) of -67.04 dB at 16.24 GHz & a thickness of 5.94 mm, whereas at the thickness of 5.86 mm, the FMCNT4 obtained a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL < -10 dB) of 2.73 GHz. On the other hand, replacing MWCNTs with AC in the composite (FMAC4) showed RLmax of -46.52 dB at 18 GHz and 5.1 mm thickness, it also got an EAB of 2.54 GHz at 5.5 mm thickness. The MXene/CF/GO composite (FMGO5) obtained RLmax = -17.31 @ 17.12 GHz & 6 mm. The composite having MWCNTs showed the best performance, and the reason for this remarkable MW absorption performance originated from the high impedance matching followed by dielectric polarization and magnetic losses in the composite. The formation of multiple heterointerfaces between MXene, CF, and MWCNTs enhanced the interfacial polarisation, whereas the conducting MXene and MWCNTs also contributed to conduction polarization. Thus, the present investigation showcases FMCNT as an excellent synergetic nanocomposite for MW absorption applications.