Truss structure construction of resource-rich carbon microtube achieved ultralight electromagnetic absorbers

Abstract

Urgently, renewability and low energy consumption in such a carbon-neutral era is the main scheme for researchers. The renewable and lightweight nature of biomass carbon provides possibilities for the development of lightweight absorbers in aerospace applications. Carbon microtubes were achieved massively from renewing planetree fruit hair with a high aspect ratio of about 400:1. High aspect-ratio carbon microtubes are facilitated to construct three-dimensional (3D) bearing/conductive networks based on the Magpie nesting strategy of truss structure. Carbon aerogel interlocked by carbon microtubes (MTCA) exhibited a good bearing capacity (9987.26 Pa) and excellent electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA) (ultralow filler loading of 5 wt.%) and shielding performance (57.1 dB). It is confirmed that 3D networks constructed by high aspect-ratio carbon microtubes are facilitated to optimize carbon-based absorbers’ impedance matching. This work explores the important role of high aspect ratio biomass carbon microtubes in regulating the dielectric parameters and provides a feasible strategy of carbon neutral scheme for novel ultralight EWA materials.