A novel FeCo nanoparticle embedded nanoporous carbon composite (Fe-Co/NPC) was synthesized via in situ carbonization of dehydro-ascorbic acid (DHAA) coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in a metal-organic framework (zeolitic imidazolate framework-67, ZIF-67). The molar ratio of Fe/Co significantly depends on the encapsulated content of Fe3O4 in ZIF-67. The composites filled with 50 wt% of the Fe-Co/NPC-2.0 samples in paraffin show a maximum reflection loss (RL) of -21.7 dB at a thickness of 1.2 mm; in addition, a broad absorption bandwidth for RL < -10 dB which covers from 12.2 to 18 GHz can be obtained, and its minimum reflection loss and bandwidth (RL values exceeding -10 dB) are far greater than those of commercial carbonyl iron powder under a very low thickness (1-1.5 mm). This study not only provides a good reference for future preparation of carbon-based lightweight microwave absorbing materials but also broadens the application of such kinds of metal-organic frameworks.

(1 of 10)Dielectric materials are greatly desired for electromagnetic absorption applications. Lots of research shows that conduction loss and polarization are two of the most important factors determining complex permittivity. However, the detailed dissipation mechanisms for the improved microwave absorption performance are often based on semiempirical rules, lacking practical data relationships between conduction loss/polarization and dielectric behaviors. Here, a strategy of introducing point defects is used to understand such underlying relationships, where polarizability and conductivity are adjustable by manipulating oxygen deficiency or heteroatoms. Based on first principles calculations and the applied oxygendeficient strategy, dielectric polarization is shown to be dominant in determining the permittivity behaviors in semiconductors. Meanwhile, the presented nitrogen doping strategy shows that conduction loss is dominant in determining the permittivity behavior in graphitized carbon materials. The validity of the methods for using point defects to explore the underlying relations between conduction loss/polarization and dielectric behaviors in semiconductor and graphitized carbon are demonstrated for the first time, which are of great importance in optimizing the microwave absorption performance by defect engineering and electronic structure tailoring.

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Magnetic/dielectric@porous carbon composites, derived from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with adjustable composition ratio, have attracted wide attention due to their unique magnetoelectric properties. In addition, MOFs-derived porous carbon-based materials can meet the needs of lightweight feature. This paper reports a simple process for synthesizing stacked CoxNiy@C nanosheets derived from CoxNiy-MOFs nanosheets with multiple interfaces, which is good to the microwave response. The CoxNiy@C with controllable composition can be obtained by adjusting the ratio of Co2+ and Ni2+. It is supposed that the increased Co content is benefit to the dielectric and magnetic loss. Additionally, the bandwidth of CoNi@C nanosheets can take up almost the whole Ku band. Moreover, this composite has better environmental stability in air, which characteristic provides a sustainable potential for the practical application.

A novel yolk-shell structure of cobalt nanoparticle embedded nanoporous carbon@carbonyl iron (Co/NPC@Void@CI) was synthesized via metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and subsequent calcination treatment. The in situ generation of void layer, which originated from the shrink of a Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) during carbonization, embodies distinct advantage compared to the conventional template method. Thanks to the introduction of custom-designed dielectric/magnetic media heterostructure and multiple interfaces, the composites filled with 40 wt % of Co/NPC@Void@CI samples in paraffin exhibit a maximum reflection loss of -49.2 dB at 2.2 mm; importantly, a broad absorption bandwidth (RL < -10 dB) of 6.72 GHz can be obtained, which covers more than one-third of the whole frequency region from 10.56 to 17.28 GHz. This study not only develops the application of carbonyl iron as a high-efficiency light absorber but also initiates a fire-new avenue for artificially designed heterostructures with target functionalities.

The magnet/dielectric composites with tunable structure and composition have drawn much attention because of their particular merits in magnetoelectric properties compared with the sole dielectric or magnetic composites. In addition, porous materials at the nanoscale can satisfy the growing requirements in many industries. Therefore, constructing porous metal alloy/carbon nanocomposites is to be an admirable option. Unfortunately, traditional synthesis methods involve multistep routes and complicated insert-and-remove templates approaches. Here we report a facile process to synthesize CoNi/C composites via a spontaneous cross-linking reaction and subsequent calcination process, during which multiple processes, including reducing polyvalent metal ions, forming alloy, and encapsulating alloy nanoparticles into porous carbon matrix, are achieved almost simultaneously. By adjusting the feed ratio of Co to Ni ions, controllable composition of CoNi/C composites can be gained. It should be noted that the CoNi/C composites are demonstrated to be excellent microwave absorbers from every aspect of assessment criteria including reflection loss, effective bandwidth, thickness, and weight of absorber. Our study opens up a promising technique for the synthesis of alloy/carbon composites with porous nanostructures with target functionalities.

In terms of microwave absorption, dielectric performance acts vital but has negative characteristics in attenuation and impedance matching. In this study, ZnO/nanoporous carbon (NPC)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) materials have been fabricated through a simple and valid hydrothermal method derived from Zn metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). By changing the molar ratio of the precursors, the permittivity of the ZnO/NPC/RGO can be calculated, and the greatest balance between energy conservation and impedance matching eventually emerged with the addition of 4 mL of GO. It could be found that, at 14 GHz, a thin sample consisting of 40 wt % ZnO/NPC/RGO in the wax matrix exhibited minimum reflection loss of −50.5 dB with a thickness of 2.4 mm, and with a thickness of 2.6 mm, the effective microwave absorption bandwidth coverage is from 9.6 to 17 GHz. It is worth mentioning that we have also interpreted the relationships between the highest reflection loss values and matching thicknesses. This work not only proposes that ZnO/NPC/RGO samples are able to function as a perfect absorbent with broad frequency bandwidth and strong absorption but also provides better candidates in designing other lightweight microwave absorbents.