Enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption performance of Ni-Zn ferrite through the added structural macroporosity

Progressive utilization of wireless communications necessitates the use of electromagnetic wave absorber materials to assure a healthy environment for both devices and human beings by reducing the electromagnetic waves interference pollution. Nickel-zinc ferrite (Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4) ceramic foam was successfully fabricated using the sacrificial templating method to be utilized as a low-density electromagnetic wave absorber. Structural, morphological, magnetic, and electromagnetic wave absorption properties of the samples were studied as a function of intentional porosity percentage by using modern characterization techniques of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, micro-XRF, scanning electron microscopy, magnetic flux (BeH) analyzer, and vector network analyzer. SEM micrographs confirmed the uniform distribution of porosity with a mean diameter size of 50 mm. Magnetic measurements showed magnetic flux saturation (Bs) in the range of 85 -203 mT and hysteresis loss up to 119 J m(-3) for the Ni-Zn ferrite porous ceramics. Electromagnetic evaluations of the reticular ferrites manifested 99% attenuation of the incident electromagnetic waves with minimum reflection losses (RL) of about -30.6 to -38.3 dB at optimum thicknesses of 3.5-4.9 mm and the effective absorption bandwidth at RL = -20 dB up to 2 GHz. The high electromagnetic wave absorption performance in the broad 1-18 GHz region was attributed to the contribution of intrinsic magnetic/dielectric loss mechanisms of the sintered nickel-zinc ferrite body, the synergic attenuation effects of the foamy structure, and the impedance matching characteristics as a result of converging the permeability and permittivity. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Nickel-zinc ferrite ceramic foam was successfully fabricated as a low-density electromagnetic wave absorber, showing excellent absorption performance with 99% attenuation of electromagnetic waves and minimal reflection losses. The study utilized a variety of modern characterization techniques to analyze the structural, morphological, magnetic, and electromagnetic properties of the samples.