Microwave absorption properties of carbon nanotubes and tetrapod-shaped ZnO nanostructures composites

CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites were fabricated using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and tetrapod-shaped ZnO (T-ZnO) nanostructures as absorbents and epoxy resin (EP) as binder The electromagnetic characteristics and microwave absorption properties of the composites were investigated in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz The influences of absorbents concentration and composite thickness on microwave absorption properties were studied. When the content of CNTs and T-ZnO nanostructures are 12 wt% and 8 wt%, respectively, and the composite thickness is 1.5 mm, the value of the minimum reflection loss for CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites is -23 00 dB at 12 16 GHz. and the bandwidth corresponding to reflection loss below -10 dB is 5 GHz Moreover, the mechanism of microwave absorbing for CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites was discussed The results indicate that CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites have the potential applications as microwave absorbents with the thin thickness and light weight (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved