Microwave absorption theory and recent advances in microwave absorbers by polymer-based nanocomposites (carbons, oxides, sulfides, metals, and alloys)

Microwave absorbers have attracted much attention due to their many applications in stealth, communications, and information processing. In research conducted in recent years, many efforts have been made to produce polymer absorbers with excellent reflection loss (RL) performance, wide bandwidth, thin thickness, and low density to absorb electromagnetic (EM) microwaves using easy production processes. The use of common nanomaterials with good dielectric/magnetic loss has been limited by the absorbent thickness and density. The weight and thickness increase of nanocomposites prevent the increase of absorbent quality. In recent years, many promising polymer absorbers have been designed and synthesized in the best possible way with excellent conductivity loss and polarization loss properties. This field is the way to produce excellent nanocomposites with good surface polarization and multiple reflections. In this paper, the microwave absorption theory of EM is briefly reviewed. Then, using the factors and conditions in the design and production of absorbers, we review the success of polymer nanocomposites (including Carbons, Oxides, Sulfides, Metals, and Alloys) as EM microwave absorbers in recent years.