Facile synthesis of thin coating C/ZnO composites with strong electromagnetic wave absorption

Abstract

C/ZnO composites with increased electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing features have been synthesized through a simple one-pot hydrothermal process and subsequent high temperature carbonization under the protection of argon. The results depict that the maximum absorption of C/ZnO composites synthesized with the optimal molar ratio of zinc acetate to glucose is −50.43 dB at 15.77 GHz. The 1.16-mm-thick coating shows a wide effective absorption bandwidth (3.52 GHz) of EM wave (RL≤−10 dB). The thin coating thickness of the C/ZnO composites is desirable for decreasing the absorber weight in EM wave absorption. And there are no other reagents used throughout the synthesis process except for the green glucose and zinc acetate. Thus, C/ZnO composites would be highly promising lightweight EM wave absorbing materials.