Three-dimensional carbon foam modified with starlike-ZnO@reduced graphene oxide for microwave absorption with low filler content

Abstract

Lowering the content of wave-absorbing fillers in composites can not only reduce the fabrication cost but preserve the processibility of matrix materials. Herein, via an in-situ crystallization combined with a dip-coating method, carbon-based composite foams decorated with ZnO@reduced graphene oxide (MF/ZnO@G) were prepared as microwave absorbers. Benefiting from the excellent impedance matching, elaborately constructed multiple polarization, and multiple reflections, the paraffin-based composite (4.1 mm in thickness) with 5 wt% MF/ZnO@G foam exhibited outstanding microwave absorption performance with a maximum reflection loss of − 63.2 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.2 GHz. This work provides a facile and efficient engineering strategy to fabricate high-performance microwave absorbers with low filler content.