Construction of NiCeOx nanosheets-skeleton cross-linked by carbon nanotubes networks for efficient electromagnetic wave absorption

Abstract

In this work, two-dimensional NiCeOx nanosheet-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites were prepared by a hydrothermal method. NiCeOx with different morphologies can be formed by adjusting the addition ratio of nickel salt and cerium salt, and the introduction of CNTs in the subsequent synthesis process can effectively prevent the aggregation of NiCeOx nanosheets. Microstructural studies show that hexagonal NiCeOx nanosheets with a size of 100 nm are uniformly intertwined with CNTs. When applied to the attenuation of electromagnetic waves, NiCeOx/CNTs composites exhibit better electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance than pure CNTs and NiCeOx nanosheets due to improved impedance matching and multiple polarization relaxation. At the matching thickness of 1.9 mm, the composite exhibits a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of –53.2 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth (RL < –10 dB) of 5.04 GHz with a thickness of 2.3 mm. These results indicate that the as-prepared NiCeOx/CNTs composites have excellent EMW absorption performance and are expected to be a candidate material for EMW absorption.