Self-Assembly Mxene-Nico2s4 Heterostructures as Advanced Microwave Absorbers

Abstract

The exploration of excellent microwave absorbers is a great challenge for researchers. However, the single component of the electromagnetic waves (EMWs) absorbing material have been difficult to meet the requirements of their today's complex environment. Therefore, this work proposes a MXene-NiCo2S4 (M-NCS) heterostructures with magnetic-dielectric double losses to achieve efficient absorption of EMWs. The 3D M-NCS heterostructures were constructed successfully through simple hydrothermal and electrostatic self-assembly processes. The attachment of the magnetic NiCo2S4 (NCS) particles on the surface of MXene sheets introduces numerous heterointerfaces, forms cavities allowing EMWs scattering and reflecting, and achieves multiple dielectric-magnetic loss to EMWs. Thus, the optimized M-NCS hybrids exhibit a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -62.62 dB, and an effective bandwidth (EAB) of 3.15 GHz (11.87-15.03 GHz) at a thickness of only 1.43 mm, which could also achieve the entire X-band and Ku-band coverage within 1.07-2.05 mm thickness. This work offers a new perspective for further research of MXene-based absorber materials.

Keywords: MXene, NiCo2S4, Microwave absorption, Heterointerface