Electrostatic-spinning construction of HCNTs@Ti3C2T x MXenes hybrid aerogel microspheres for tunable microwave absorption

Abstract

Abstract Helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) are chiral materials that can form an induced magnetic field when current passes through them, making them a desirable material for absorbing microwaves. However, poor electrical properties and inert surfaces limit the application of HCNTs as sole materials. In this study, we develop HCNTs@Ti3C2T x MXenes hybrid aerogel microspheres synthesized using an electrospinning-assisted ice template method. The modified surfaces of the HCNTs form hydrogen bonds with Ti3C2T x MXenes to produce hybrid aerogel microspheres. Because of the different functionalized surfaces of HCNTs (F-HCNTs), F-HCNTs@Ti3C2T x MXenes could be adjusted to obtain effective reflection loss (RL) of microwaves ranging from 2 to 18 GHz. The observed advantageous RL is attributed to the modified surface of the HCNTs, their porous structure, and the optimized impedance matching derived from the synergistic effect between HCNTs and Ti3C2T x MXenes. Successful assembly method for the 3D architectures of HCNTs@Ti3C2T x MXenes hybrid aerogel microspheres significantly widens the practical applications of HCNTs in microwave absorption.