Biomass-derived porous carbon-based composites for electromagnetic wave absorption

Electromagnetic wave-absorbing (EMWA) materials show great potential for radar stealth, electromagnetic shielding and advanced electronics. Biomass-derived porous carbon (BPC)-based composites have emerged as highly attractive EMWA materials due to their renewable sources, abundant availability, low cost, scalable production and highly tunable structures. This review provides a systematic summary of recent advancements in BPC-based composites for EMWA applications. First, the fundamental principles of microwave absorption are briefly outlined. Subsequently, common pretreatment methods for BPC-based materials are reviewed. The progress in BPC-based composites sourced from plants, animals and microorganisms is comprehensively examined, with a focus on the synergistic effects of micro/nanostructural engineering and composition optimization on their EMWA performance. Finally, current challenges and limitations of BPC-based EMWA materials are critically analyzed, along with prospects for future development. • Pretreatment strategies for synthesizing biomass-derived porous carbon-based composites for electromagnetic wave absorption are systematically summarized. • Recent advances in biomass-derived porous carbon-based composites for electromagnetic wave absorption are comprehensively reviewed, categorized by different biomass sources. • Challenges and future prospects of biomass-derived porous carbon-based composites for electromagnetic wave absorption are proposed.