Challenges and future perspectives on microwave absorption based on two-dimensional materials and structures

Abstract

The widespread use of electronic equipment, such as computers, cell phones, communication devices and wireless facilities, has increased electromagnetic radiation, which can cause cancer and other diseases in humans. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for excluding the interferences in the aircraft and other precise instruments in military aspects. Therefore, minimizing and attenuating electromagnetic waves are critical issues. In this review, various two-dimensional (2D) materials and structures are discussed for microwave-absorbing and shielding in terms of ‘thin, light, wide, and strong’ requirements. The typical absorption and attenuation mechanisms are analysed and summarized to deliver an overall view and offer possible trends for future developments. Multiple works have revealed that 2D materials and structures are promising for use in microwave devices. In addition to conventional materials with 2D structures, we focus on new graphene-like materials, such as 2D transition metal dichalcogenides and black phosphorus, due to their beneficial absorbing and shielding properties. These 2D materials will likely play an important role in electromagnetic wave absorption and cancellation in the future. Finally, the related challenges and some new 2D materials are briefly discussed.

A Study on Microwave Absorption Properties of Carbon Black and Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 Nanocomposites by Tuning the Matching-Absorbing Layer Structures

“…This is because ferrite and carbon black particles were separated by insulating matrix molecules, thus giving rise to heterogeneity. This would result in some space charge accumulating at the interface, which in turn would generate interfacial polarizations 15,16 . As the polarization charge cannot keep up with the variation of the external electromagnetic field, dielectric relaxation is present, resulting in higher microwave absorption in the composites.…”

“…In order to improve the performance of microwave absorption properties, microwave absorbers are designed to meet the specific requirements of simultaneously having strong absorption, wide frequency band, lightweight and small thickness. Improvements can certainly be made to the designs by physical assembling of different types of absorbents 1-5 , chemical decorated absorbents 6,7 as well as by designing multi-layer structures [8][9][10][11] .Microwave absorbers are produced using different kinds of materials including one dimensional (1D) materials such as carbon nanotubes 12-15 , two dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene 16,17 and bulk three dimensional (3D) materials such as ferrites 9,18-21 . The difference in the dimensional structure of the materials would largely affect the microwave absorption performances since different kinds of structures contribute to different www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ the F1/CB1 sample showed the best all round performance, in which more than 99% microwave energy was absorbed, with a reflection loss of −24.0 dB and a widest bandwidth of 4.8 GHz at −10 dB, yet it is the thinnest among the three designs, having a total thickness of only 2 mm.…”

“…Microwave absorbers are produced using different kinds of materials including one dimensional (1D) materials such as carbon nanotubes 12-15 , two dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene 16,17 and bulk three dimensional (3D) materials such as ferrites 9,18-21 . The difference in the dimensional structure of the materials would largely affect the microwave absorption performances since different kinds of structures contribute to different www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ the F1/CB1 sample showed the best all round performance, in which more than 99% microwave energy was absorbed, with a reflection loss of −24.0 dB and a widest bandwidth of 4.8 GHz at −10 dB, yet it is the thinnest among the three designs, having a total thickness of only 2 mm.…”

Porous carbon materials for microwave absorption

“…For example, EM waves emitted by mobile phones would affect the normal work of precision electronic medical devices; EM waves can also seriously interfere with aircraft communications; besides, EM waves cause long-term harm to human body health; and, in the military aspect, the development of radar detection technology based on EM waves seriously threatens the survivability of aircraft, tanks, and ships. [2][3][4] Therefore, developing advanced microwave absorption (MA) materials to eliminate unwanted EM energy has attracted great interest at the global scale. [5][6][7][8][9] Usually, ideal MA materials should be thin in thickness, light in weight, wide in bandwidth, and strong in absorption.…”

“…Furthermore, to increase the service life of MA materials, they need to display excellent environmental corrosion resistance (such as high temperature and humidity resistance, and thermal oxidization stability). 2,[10][11][12] Consequently, the light weight, large surface areas, excellent environmental stability, and strong EM wave attenuation abilities of carbon-based materials make them very promising in microwave absorption.…”