Using multi-scale interaction mechanisms in yolk-shell structured C/Co composite materials for electromagnetic wave absorption

Abstract

Advanced chemical engineering for simultaneous modulation of nanomaterial morphology, defects, interfaces, and structure to enhance electromagnetic and microwave absorption (MA) performance. However, accurately distinguishing the MA contributions of different scale factors and tuning the optimal combined effects remains a formidable challenge. This study employs a synergistic approach combining template protection etching and vacuum annealing to construct a controlled system of micrometer-sized cavities and amorphous carbon matrices in metal-organic framework (MOF) derivatives. The results demonstrate that the spatial effects introduced by the hollow structure enhance dielectric loss but significantly weaken impedance matching. By increasing the proportion of amorphous carbon, the balance between electromagnetic loss and impedance matching can be effectively maintained. Importantly, in a suitable graphitization environment, the presence of oxygen vacancies in amorphous carbon can induce significant polarization to compensate for the reduced conductivity loss due to the absence of sp2 carbon. Through the synergistic effects of morphology and composition, the samples exhibit a broader absorption bandwidth (6.28 GHz) and stronger reflection loss (−61.64 dB) compared to the original MOF. In conclusion, this study aims to elucidate the multiscale impacts of macroscopic micro-nano structure and microscopic defect engineering, providing valuable insights for future research in this field.