Self-Assembly Three-Dimensional Porous Carbon Networks for Efficient Dielectric Attenuation

Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8)-derived ZnO/nanoporous carbon (NPC) aligned in a three-dimensional porous carbon network (3DPCN) is designed to form a multiporous network nanostructure to absorb electromagnetic waves. The porous 3DPCN structure acts as the electronic pathway and the nucleation locus for ZIF-8 particles. Meanwhile, the conductive networks could also provide more routes for electron transfer. With good impedance matching and attenuation characteristics, ZnO@NPC/3DPCN shows enhanced microwave response where the minimum reflection loss of -35.7 dB can be achieved with a 10 wt % filler. Our study not only exploits the new system of lightweight absorbers but also further reveals the changing of electromagnetic parameters and absorbing properties by heat treatment, which may lead to a new way to design novel lighter multiporous network nanostructures.