Anisotropic Bacterial Cellulose/MXene Aerogel Coated with MoS2 Nanosheets for Electromagnetic Wave Adsorption

Loss capacity and impedance matching are critical factors that govern the electromagnetic wave-absorption performance of materials. However, achieving an optimal synergistic balance between these two factors remains a significant challenge. In this study, we fabricate an ultralight and anisotropic aerogel synthesized using directional freeze-drying with bacterial cellulose and MXene as the structural framework. Subsequently, MoS2 nanosheets were uniformly deposited onto the aerogel via an in situ hydrothermal process, forming nanoarrays that enhance multiple scattering and interfacial polarization. The aerogel demonstrates an ultralow reflection loss of −53.6 dB (2.26 mm thickness) and an ultrawide absorption bandwidth of 8.16 GHz (2.66 mm thickness). The oriented porous architecture and multiphase composition of the bacterial cellulose/MXene aerogel synergistically enhance performance through multiscale loss mechanisms (e.g., conductive loss and polarization loss) and adjustable impedance matching. Furthermore, the aerogel demonstrated excellent thermal insulation. This work provides valuable insights into the rational design of electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials with enhanced adaptability for diverse application scenarios.