A novel Fe3C/graphitic carbon composite with electromagnetic wave absorption properties in the C-band

An electromagnetic (EM) wave absorber with characteristic absorption in the millimeter wave range is very important for the EM industry. Especially, absorption properties in the microwave frequency range C-band (4-8 GHz) are necessary in the field of military aircraft. Herein, a Fe3C/graphitic carbon (Fe3C/GC) composite has been synthesized through a low-cost and facile ion-exchange route. The Fe3C/GC could exhibit excellent EM wave absorption properties in the C-band with the frequency range of 4-8 GHz and also exhibits good dielectric loss, which could be attributed to the existence of lightweight GC in the composite. The reflection loss value of the Fe3C/GC composite exceeds -10 dB in the frequency range of 4-8 GHz with an absorber thickness of 2-4 mm, implying its potential application as a lightweight EM wave absorber in the C-band region. Moreover, the Fe3C/GC composite shows better electromagnetic wave absorption properties than other iron compound GC-based composites, such as Fe2N/GC and Fe/GC.