Flower-like α-Fe₂O₃/ordered mesoporous carbon nanocomposite and its enhanced microwave absorption property

Abstract

Three-dimensional flower-like α-Fe₂O₃ structures were grown on the surface of ordered mesoporous carbon nanorods through a facile hydrothermal method, and their electromagnetic (EM) parameters were measured at 2–18 GHz. The special geometric morphology and proper magnetic loss of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the strong dielectric polarisations and relaxations in the composites contribute to its excellent EM wave absorption. A reflection loss exceeding −10 dB was obtained at 9·9–16·1 GHz for an absorber of 50 wt-% loading with 2·50 mm thickness layer. The result provides a novel EM wave absorbing material to meet the practical applications.

Keywords:

• Flower-like α-Fe₂O₃
• Ordered mesoporous carbon
• EM parameter
• Microwave absorption

Acknowledgements

This project was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 50771082 and 60776822), the Excellent Doctorate Foundation, the Doctorate Foundation (grant no. CX201207) and Graduate Starting Seed Fund (grant no. Z2011011) of Northwestern Polytechnical University and the Scholarship Award for Excellent Doctoral Student granted by the Ministry of Education.