Broadband and multilayer core-shell FeCo@C@mSiO2 nanoparticles for microwave absorption

Abstract

The core-shell composite of FeCo alloy coated with amorphous carbon and mesoporous silica (mSiO2 for short) has been successfully fabricated through liquid-phase reduction, hydrothermal reaction as well as high temperature calcination, forming nanoparticles around 400 nm in size. The alloy core provides strong magnetic loss and keeps stable under the protection of the shell, while the carbon shell reduces density and promotes dielectric loss. The outer layer of mSiO2 provides a larger specific surface area for multiple reflections, and meanwhile effectively adjusting the impedance matching, resulting in a better absorption. With a thickness of 3.5 mm, the maximum RL of the composite reaches −46.79 dB at 11.84 GHz, and the effective absorption bandwidth with the RL below −10 dB is up to 8.8 GHz (from 9.2 to 18.0 GHz). Hence, FeCo@C@mSiO2 composite is potential to become an excellent candidate in the field of microwave absorption.