Improved Impedance Matching Research Articles

The microwave absorption performance of CF coated with MnO2 nanowires grown by simple hydrothermal method

Microwave absorber can effectively reduce the influence of electromagnetic interference. MnO2 nanowires were deposited on the CF surface by adopting a simple one-step hydrothermal method to fabricate MnO2/CF composites in order to obtain a high-performance microwave absorber. Its microwave absorption (MA) performance and microstructure could be manipulated by adjusting the coating amount. The introduction of MnO2 makes composites possess good MA performance by improving impedance matching. The minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of the MnO2/CF composite is −42.9 dB (1.2 mm, 17.6 GHz), and its effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reaches 3.84 GHz (1.6 mm). Moreover, its effective absorption band Δƒ (0.5–4 mm thickness) reaches 11.6 GHz. It shows that the MnO2/CF composite could be regarded as an ideal microwave absorber for high frequency.

Lightweight, thermally insulating SiBCN/Al2O3 ceramic aerogel with enhanced high-temperature resistance and electromagnetic wave absorption performance

Owing to tunable dielectric properties, light weight and high porosity, polymer-derived SiBCN ceramic aerogels possess significant application prospects in electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption and thermal insulation. However, due to inadequate oxidation resistance, the structural collapse and performance deterioration of SiBCN aerogels will easily occur in high-temperature aerobic environments, limiting their application. Herein, to address this issue, a novel and straightforward strategy based on typical polymer-derived-ceramic (PDC) aerogel method and impregnation with boehmite sol was proposed for synthesizing SiBCN/Al2O3 composite ceramic aerogels. The microstructure, phase composition, thermal insulation, oxidation resistance and EMW absorption properties of SiBCN/Al2O3 ceramic aerogels were investigated. The resulting SiBCN/Al2O3 composite aerogel demonstrates superior high-temperature structural stability, exhibiting an ultra-low linear shrinkage of only 6.5 % following heat treatment at 1200 °C for 2 h in air. Additionally, the composite aerogel shows a low thermal conductivity of 0.039 W/mK and a low density of 0.112 g/cm3. The SiBCN/Al2O3 composite aerogel, composed of dielectric SiBCN, conductive free carbon, and insulating alumina, demonstrates outstanding EMW absorption properties with a minimum reflection loss of −48.6 dB and an effective bandwidth of 5.8 GHz. The enhanced microwave absorption performance is mainly attributed to the improved impedance matching, multiple reflection, and enhanced interfacial polarization resulting from the introduction of Al2O3. Given prominent oxidation resistance, thermal insulation and EMW absorption properties, the SiBCN/Al2O3 composite aerogel paves the way for developing microwave absorption and thermal insulation integrated material in high-speed vehicles.

Chain-arranged Ni1-xCox micro/nano particles prepared via a magnetic field-assisted reduction for enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption

Transition metal magnetic alloys have garnered extensive interests in electromagnetic wave absorption due to the remarkable magnetic loss capacity and unique magnetism-frequency characteristics. Herein, we report a novel magnetic absorbent of Ni1-xCox micro chains that synthesized through a magnetic field-assisted reduction method. The precipitated Ni1-xCox particles could be connected and aligned during the magnetic reduction process. Due to the modified electronic structure of the Co active site by Ni, the particle size in the Ni1-xCox micro chains noticeably increases with increased x. Meanwhile, the complex dielectric constants exhibit a decreasing trend, which contributes to the improved impedance matching and higher resonance frequencies. The connected Ni1-xCox micro/nano particles not only benefit to the conductive loss, but also strengthened the polarization loss on the contacted interfaces among the particles. As a result, significantly enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption performance was obtained with the minimum reflection loss of −21.0 dB and the effective absorption bandwidth of 3.92 GHz at a thickness of only 1.35 mm. Overall, this work has demonstrated the strategy of designing aligned bimetallic absorbent, possessing great potentials in improving their microwave absorption properties.

Hierarchical hollow MnO/carbon fiber@WS2 composite material exhibits strong wideband electromagnetic wave attenuation

Constructing multi-layer heterogeneous interfaces has been studied as one of the important means to optimize electromagnetic wave absorption performance. WS2, as a special layered material with high specific surface area and multiple anionic vacancies, although its multi-layered interface structure cannot meet the requirements of all absorbing materials, composite absorbers designed through composition and structure are undoubtedly not one of the strategies to improve absorption bandwidth. In this study, we utilized the defect rich characteristics of WS2 Nano flowers and designed a multi-layer core–shell MnO/CF@WS2 (H-MCW) hybrid materials using carbon fiber (CF) as a carrier to provide a carbon source. The core cavity of H-MCW is conducive to multiple scattering of electromagnetic waves, with a large number of defects leading to an increase in electrochemical active sites in the material, and enhanced dipoles helping to improve impedance matching. This work provides a new method for designing lightweight thin film absorbing materials.

Influence of carbon nanotubes on the absorption performance and mechanical behavior of basalt fiber composite materials

AbstractBasalt fibers (BF) are widely used in shipbuilding due to their excellent corrosion resistance. However, basalt fibers do not possess good electromagnetic wave absorption properties, failing to meet the stealth performance requirements of ships. Therefore, this study focuses on basalt fiber composite materials, modifying the matrix by adding different amounts of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Carbon nanotube‐basalt fiber‐epoxy resin absorptive composite materials are prepared using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) technique to investigate the influence of CNT content on the materials. Samples with added CNTs can effectively absorb electromagnetic waves in the low‐frequency range, reducing surface reflectivity. In the high‐frequency range, the impedance matching value of the samples initially increases slowly. When the CNT content reaches 1.5 wt%, at a thickness of 2.5 mm and a frequency of 9.6 GHz, the minimum reflection loss of the sample is −14.40 dB, with an effective absorption bandwidth of 0.7 GHz. Also, CNTs can enhance the mechanical properties of composite materials. With increasing CNT content, both the bending strength and tensile strength of the composite materials are improved. When the CNT content reaches 1.5 wt%, the average tensile fracture strength of the material increases by 21%, and the bending strength increases by 9%.Highlights Enhanced low‐frequency electromagnetic wave absorption from CNTs and reduced polarization. Improved impedance matching and attenuation at high frequencies with CNTs. Significant enhancement in flexural and tensile strength due to CNTs and basalt fibers.

Construction of a 3D spider web structure with spherical Ho2O3 wrapped by carbon nanofibers for high-efficiency microwave absorption and corrosion protection

Reasonable composition control and microstructure design are the effective ways to realize multi-functional high-performance absorbing materials. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) spider web structure was designed by the electrospinning and high temperature carbonization technology, where Ho2O3 spheres were wrapped by carbon nanofibers. Herein, the spherical Ho2O3 were surrounded by layers of carbon nanofibers (spider silk), which were like the preys inside the spider's web. This unique bionic structure working in conjunction with the tuned components enables the as-prepared composites with improved impedance matching and enhanced loss capacity. The superior electromagnetic wave absorption performance was obtained as the minimum reflection loss of −61.37 dB at 2.90 mm and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 6.88 GHz (11.12–18 GHz) at 2.64 mm. At a thickness of 3.44 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth is 4.80 GHz (8–12.80 GHz), covering the entire X-band. At the same time, the composite soaked in the corrosive medium for 7 days owns a low corrosion current density (10−4 ∼10−6 A cm−2) and a high polarization resistance (105∼107 Ω), which exhibits the obvious anticorrosion ability. This work designs a specific spider web structure with high-performance microwave absorption and corrosion protection.

Architectural Design of a Multichannel Porous Carbon Fiber for Efficient Electromagnetic Microwave Absorption.

An ingenious microstructure of electromagnetic microwave absorption materials is crucial to achieve strong absorption and a broad bandwidth. Herein, one-dimensional (1D) carbon fibers with implantation of zero-dimensional (0D) ZIF-8-derived carbon frameworks and construction of a three-dimensional (3D) microcosmic multichannel porous structure are fabricated by electro-blown spinning, solvent-thermal reaction, and high-temperature pyrolysis techniques. The 1D carbon fiber skeleton with a multichannel structure provides a direct axial conductive pathway for charge transport, which plays an important role in dielectric loss. The 0D surface carbon frameworks offer plenty of heterogeneous interfaces to trigger intensive interfacial polarization loss and act as dihedral angles for microwave scattering. The 3D microcosmic multichannel pores can not only generate multiple reflections as much as possible to dissipate electromagnetic microwave energy but also supply huge interior cavities to improve impedance matching. Thanks to the synergistic effect of a strong electrically conductive pathway for enhancing the conductive loss, a plenteous heterogeneous interface for triggering intensive interfacial polarization loss, microcosmic multichannel pores for generating multiple reflections and improving impedance matching, and N and O atom doping for inducing dipole polarization, the optimal sample with an ingenious microstructure delivers an excellent absorption performance of a minimum reflection loss of -35.5 dB at a thickness of 5.0 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.72 GHz (10.96-17.68 GHz) at a thickness of 2.0 mm. Such a well-designed multichannel porous carbon fiber may pave the way for the exploitation of high-performance microwave absorbing materials.

Mechanism insights for impedance matching in split-ring resonator topologies under bio-medical scenarios

The utilization of microwave radiation has gained increasing importance in various biological applications. However, a significant challenge remains in the interaction between the microwaves and the human skin, primarily due to the impedance mismatch. Recently, the employment of split-ring resonator (SRR) topologies has become increasingly prevalent for addressing such a problem. Despite this, most existing literatures lack a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we follow Babinet’s principle and numerically study the dispersion relations of a single-split-ring resonator (S-SRR) and its complementary topology, single-complementary-split-ring resonator (S-CSRR). We focus on conducting the impedance analysis, along with far-field and near-field excitation characterizations. The results indicate that S-CSRR ensures an improved impedance matching, thereby significantly enhancing microwave power flow within the bio-tissue. A 2 × 2 array of S-CSRR is experimentally examined for validation. We demonstrate that the S-CSRR array enhances the total specific absorption rate (SAR) of a deeply-implanted-tumor-phantom by a factor of 1.95. Our work may provide a broader understanding towards impedance matching, which may facilitate the design of more efficient diagnostic tools in bio-medical field.

A visible transparent infrared microwave compatible stealth metasurface with low infrared emissivity

Abstract This article proposes a visible transparent infrared microwave-compatible stealth metasurface with low infrared emissivity, aiming to integrate visible transparency, low infrared radiation, and broadband microwave absorption. The entire structure consists of a dual layer of infrared shielding layer (IRSL) and microwave absorption layer (MAL). Among them, IRSL adopts a frequency selective surface (FSS) structure with high-duty cycle dielectric-metal-dielectric (DMD) to obtain low infrared emissivity and high microwave transmittance. MAL combines the equivalent circuit method (ECM) and particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) to design a circular ring metasurface for broadband microwave absorption. To achieve better absorption performance, a transition layer (TL) is introduced to improve impedance matching between IRSL and MAL. Meanwhile, the use of transparent materials throughout the entire structure has the characteristic of visible transparency. In summary, this article proposes a multiband compatible stealth metasurface design method that can meet the stealth requirements of modern battlefields.

Effect of entropy evolution on electromagnetic response mechanism of carbon-coated medium- and high-entropy oxides

Metal oxides have attracted much attention due to their potential in electromagnetic wave absorption. However, the inherent energy dissipation capabilities of low-entropy metal oxides pose challenges in designing materials with optimal entropy levels. The regulation of entropy structure is anticipated to facilitate the development of novel electromagnetic functional materials featuring abundant active sites, adjustable specific surface area, stable crystal structure, unique geometric compatibility, and distinctive electronic structure. This study compared the electromagnetic loss performance of low, medium, and high entropy metal oxides in carbon matrices. As entropy increases, the number of phases expands, leading to enhanced interface polarization losses and improved impedance matching. However, further increases in entropy result in performance decline due to lattice distortions and mismatches in dielectric constant and magnetic permeability. Experimental data and theoretical analysis reveal that performance enhancement in medium-to high-entropy metal oxides is attributed to their unique morphology and the synergistic effects of multiple metal components, which enhance interfacial and defect polarization mechanisms. Heterogeneous interfaces and lattice defects provide additional polarization sites, aiding in the conversion of electromagnetic energy into heat. The presence of intermediate phases effectively absorbs and dissipates electromagnetic waves, thereby enhancing the overall absorption capability.

Miniaturized bandpass filter with ultrawide-stopband and high selectivity using glass-based IPD technology

A miniaturized bandpass filter (BPF) with ultrawide-stopband and high selectivity performance is proposed by virtue of glass-based integrated passive devices (IPD) technology. The proposed BPF consists of two modified second-order units and an impedance inverter. In the modified second-order units, two capacitors are added to the traditional second-order Chebyshev bandpass filter, which can generate two additional transmission zeros locating in the lower and upper bands, respectively. Moreover, these two modified second-order units are cascaded to improve the selectivity and achieve the ultrawide-stopband of the proposed BPF. In addition, the cascaded impedance inverter is introduced to further improve impedance matching of the proposed BPF. The proposed BPF is fabricated using glass-based IPD technology and measured by on-wafer probing. The fabricated BPF has a compact size of 1.0 mm × 1.0 mm × 0.35 mm. The measured results show that the fabricated BPF can cover the wide operating band from 3.3 GHz to 5.0 GHz with an insertion loss of 1.4 dB, a return loss better than 17.5 dB in the passband, and an upper stopband suppression better than 21.6 dB up to 43.5 GHz (10.48f0). In addition, the fabricated BPF can achieve a good frequency selectivity with a rectangular coefficient of 1.33. The simulated and measured results exhibit good agreements.

C/Co3O4/Diatomite Composite for Microwave Absorption.

Transition metal oxides have been widely used in microwave-absorbing materials, but how to improve impedance matching is still an urgent problem. Therefore, we introduced urea as a polymer carbon source into a three-dimensional porous structure modified by Co3O4 nanoparticles and explored the influence of different heat treatment temperatures on the wave absorption properties of the composite. The nanomaterials, when calcined at a temperature of 450 °C, exhibited excellent microwave absorption capabilities. Specifically, at an optimized thickness of 9 mm, they achieved a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -97.3 dB, accompanied by an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 9.83 GHz that comprehensively covered both the S and Ku frequency bands. On the other hand, with a thickness of 3 mm, the RLmin was recorded as -17.9 dB, with an EAB of 5.53 GHz. This excellent performance is attributed to the multi-facial polarization and multiple reflections induced by the magnetic loss capability of Co3O4 nanoparticles, the electrical conductivity of C, and the unique three-dimensional structure of diatomite. For the future development of bio-based microwave absorption, this work provides a methodology and strategy.

Advantageous Effects of Phase Transition-Modulated Electric Polarization of Hollow CuSx for Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

Scrutinizing the electromagnetic wave absorption mechanism of sulfides remains a challenge due to the variability of the modulation of the crystal structure of the sulfides. To take advantage of this variability, nanosheet-assembled Cu9S5/CN composites with sulfur vacancies were prepared in this study by self-assembly synthesis and subsequent high-temperature heat treatment. Systematic studies show the phase transition-dependent induced decrease in the conductivity, the defect site-induced difference in the charge density, the weakened vacancy formation of defect polarization loss, and the influence of valence state on electric dipole polarization loss and interfacial polarization loss, making the optimization of the dielectric constant a significant positive effect on the improvement of impedance matching. This work provides a reliable example and theoretical guidance for the crystal structure design for the preparation of a new generation of efficient sulfide-based wave-absorbing materials.

Engineering multifunctionality graphene-based nanocomposites with epoxy-silane functionalized cardanol for next-generation microwave absorber

As technology advances, the demand for effective microwave-absorbing materials (MAM) to mitigate electromagnetic wave interference is growing. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are increasingly favored across various fields for their high specific surface area, electrical conductivity, low density, and dielectric loss properties. This study presents lightweight nanocomposites composed of graphene nanoplatelets blended with epoxy resin (ER) and cardanol with silane-functionalized (SFC) as a toughening agent. The resulting nanocomposites exhibit a high surface roughness of 130 nm and an enhanced hydrophobicity, as evidenced by a high contact angle. Notably, the ER/SFC/GNP sample at 3 wt% (0.075 g) achieves a minimum reflection loss value of −18 dB at a thickness of 10 mm, indicating improved impedance matching and enhanced dielectric loss capability. The increasing damping factor ratio to approximately 0.95 further augments the reflection loss performance. The research aims to develop cost-effective, efficient, lightweight graphene-based nanocomposite absorbers.

Enhancement of Microwave Absorption Properties of Crystal‐Engineered Perovskite Oxide Using Cobalt Ferrite

A multiferroic composite that comprises of a non‐ferromagnetic ferroelectric material with a high dielectric constant and a non‐ferroelectric ferromagnetic material with a high magnetostriction is of tremendous interest as microwave absorption material due to its applicability in tunable microwave phase shifters, resonators, filters, absorbers, etc. In the previous work, the solid solution of strontium titanate and sodium bismuth titanate (Sr0.5(Na0.5Bi0.5)0.5TiO3, SNBT50), which is observed to possess a very high dielectric constant at room temperature (Ferroelectrics, Vol 583, 252–263 [2021]), is successfully reported. Thus, in this work, a core–shell magnetoelectric composite is prepared by coating highly ferromagnetic and magnetostrictive cobalt ferrite onto a diamagnetic but strongly ferroelectric SNBT50 to enhance its magnetic properties and to investigate the modification in microwave absorption. Detailed characterization of electric and magnetic parameters in microwave frequency range (1–20 GHz) reports substantial enhancement in the magnetic permeabilities as well as the magnetic loss of the composite system, as opposed to bare SNBT50. This results in improved impedance matching in the system and enhanced microwave absorption, with a minimum reflection loss (RL) of −20.19 dB and an increased effective absorption bandwidth of 4.56 GHz at a mere 2.7 mm absorber length. Consequently, in this investigation, a promising pathway is established for the development of multiferroic composites with favorable magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature that possesses wide absorption bandwidth and suitable RL, making them highly suitable for use in multiferroic‐based microwave components.

Pattern reconfigurable UHF RFID universal reader antenna array

In response to the rising demand for adaptable and versatile RFID reader antenna, this paper presents an integrated reader system featuring an array of four antennas. The primary objective is to design four identical, circularly polarized, high-gain, wide-band antennas that cover the 860–960 MHz UHF RFID band. Each antenna consists of three layers, the radiator and director layers, designed as patch antennas with trimmed edges and a central slot, while the reflector layer is constructed from a copper material. These layers are assembled with four Teflon spacers, and a coaxial connector is utilized for feeding the antenna. An open-circuit stub is used to improve impedance matching. CST Microwave Studio was employed for design optimization. The four sector antennas achieve a 150 MHz bandwidth (833–983 MHz) and a maximum gain of 8.4 dBi. When combined with a four-port RFID reader (ThingMagic M6E), the antenna system generates four electronically switchable beams in the azimuth plane. The proposed antenna exhibits left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) within the RFID ISM band, maintaining an axial ratio (AR) between 1 dB and 3 dB. The antenna array, including the reader and control unit, measures 255 × 255 × 210 mm. Simulation and measurement results confirm the system's performance and functionality.

Synergistic microwave absorption effect of graphene-BN-Fe3O4 composite at thin thickness

With the quick evolution of information technology, it is necessary to develop high-performance microwave absorbers to attenuate electromagnetic waves. Herein, we prepared graphene-BN-Fe3O4 composites by a facile solvothermal method using graphene as the dielectric loss component, Fe3O4 as the magnetic loss component and BN as the dielectric modulating component. BN and graphene form a 2D/2D structure adhered with Fe3O4. When the ratio of BN to graphene is 1:1 with Fe3O4 content of 60 %, the absorber exhibits excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance. A RLmin of −42.31 dB is obtained with an effective band of 4.5 GHz at 1.04 mm, while the maximum EAB of samples can reach 4.59 GHz (13.41–18 GHz) with a RLmin value of –33.16 dB at 1.05 mm. The prepared composite exhibits a wide absorption band at a thin thickness. Enhanced microwave absorption performance is achieved mainly due to the synergistic effect of increased interface polarization loss, appropriate conductive loss, and improved impedance matching.

Compact circular microstrip 1:4 power divider/combiner with defected ground plane

This letter presents a methodology for the design of high-performance miniaturized Circular Power Dividers (CPDs) for wideband applications. To accomplish this objective, annular slots are strategically incorporated into patch and the ground plane of CPDs. This, in turn, increases the effective path length of the surface current flowing across the patch. This yields miniaturization, improved impedance matching, reduced insertion loss and increased isolation over a larger bandwidth. A mathematical model is developed for the design of the proposed configuration called Circular power dividers with Defected Ground Plane(CDGP). The presented model has been verified through various simulations and practical measurements. By implementing this approach, a substantial miniaturization of approximately 83% and more than threefold increase in bandwidth has been achieved when compared with non-slotted CPDs. Moreover, there is improvement in insertion loss, isolation, and return loss as well. There is good agreement between the mathematical model, simulation results and measured parameters.

Constructing multi-layer heterogeneous interfaces in liquid metal graphite hybrid powder: Towards microwave absorption enhancement

Carbon based materials are widely used in the preparation of microwave absorption materials due to their low density, high attenuation loss and large specific surface area. However, their high conductivity usually leads to high reflection loss. In this study, multi-layer heterogeneous interfaces were constructed in liquid metal graphite hybrid powder to reduce reflection loss and enhance microwave absorption performance. Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) layer was formed in Ga coated graphite powder to improve impedance matching and attenuation constant via an annealing treatment. Specifically, the hybrid particles with 50 wt% Ga and being annealed at 120 °C for 2 h have a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of −42.68 dB and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 4.11 GHz at a thickness of 3.3 mm. The hybrid particles not only have multi-layer structures with different electrical conductivity, but also form heterojunctions between different interfaces, which can further enhance dipole and interfacial polarization.

One‐Pot Synthesis of Conductive Metal–Organic Framework@polypyrrole Hybrids with Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Performance

Rational heterostructure design can bring interfacial polarization relaxation to significantly enhance the electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance. However, intelligently building a homogeneous heterostructure with superior EMW absorption properties remains a great challenge. Herein, a typical conductive metal–organic framework Cu3(HHTP)2 (hexahydroxytriphenylene, HHTP) is delicately packed onto a polypyrrole (PPy) conductive polymer surface via a one‐step in situ polymerization approach. Results show that Cu3(HHTP)2 is well packed on the PPy surface to form an elegant Cu3(HHTP)2@PPy hybrids interfacial microstructure with a unique superiority regarding EMW absorption compared with single components of PPy and Cu3(HHTP)2. Interestingly, the interfacial microstructure of Cu3(HHTP)2@PPy hybrids can be tuned by adjusting the composition of the PPy and Cu3(HHTP)2, resulting in the improvement of impedance matching, conductive loss, and enhancement of interfacial polarization relaxation, endowing the optimization of the EM wave absorption properties of the Cu3(HHTP)2@PPy. The broad effective absorption bandwidth covers a range as broad as 6.68 GHz (11.00–17.68 GHz), which is higher than most reported metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and conductive polymer‐based EM absorbing materials. Herein, new insight for developing highly efficient EMW absorption materials through hybridized interfacial microstructure engineering is provided.