Multifunctional SiC aerogel reinforced with nanofibers and nanowires for high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption

Abstract

Ceramic aerogels with recoverable compressibility, super-insulation capacity, and remarkable thermal and chemical stability are fascinating for use in the field of high-level electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. However, integrating multiple functions into a monolithic ceramic aerogel using presently available fabrication techniques remains a challenge. Therefore, we employed a novel strategy to successfully synthesize a multifunctional and monolithic SiC ceramic aerogel using a simple freeze casting technique with a subsequent carbonation and calcination process. The as-synthesized SiC aerogel-2 exhibits ultralow density, fire resistance, high-temperature chemical and thermal stability, and excellent insulating properties. Notably, the one-dimensional SiC nanofibers and nanowires inside the SiC aerogel-2 act as a reinforcement to ensure the presence of a stable porous structure. The sample exhibits excellent mechanical performance and also achieves ideal impedance matching to present high-efficiency EMW-absorbing properties, including a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of − 61.56 dB and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of 9.82 GHz. Thus, the successful fabrication of multifunctional SiC aerogels will pave the way for the development and widespread application of high-level EMW absorption materials in aviation and aerospace fields.