Plasma-enhanced interfacial engineering of FeSiAl@PUA@SiO2 hybrid for efficient microwave absorption and anti-corrosion

Microwave absorption materials are prone to degradation in extremely humid and salty environments, and it is still challenging to develop a dense and firm interface to protect microwave absorbers. Herein, a robust FeSiAl@PUA@SiO2 (PUA: acrylic polyurethane) gradient hybrid was prepared through plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to achieve efficient microwave absorption and anti-corrosion properties. The organic/inorganic dual coat of PUA/SiO2 not only facilitated the interface polarization but also effectively reduced the dielectric constant and optimized impedance matching. Owing to the unique hybrid structure, the (PECVD-FeSiAl@PUA)@SiO2 exhibited highly efficient microwave absorbing performance in frequency bands covering almost the entire Ku-bands (12-18 GHz) with a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -47 dB with a matching thickness of 2.3 mm. The organic/inorganic dual protection effectively shields against the corrosive medium, as the corrosion potential and the polarization resistance increased from -0.167 to -0.047 V and 8,064 to 16,273 Omega.cm(2), respectively. While the corrosion current decreased from 3.04 x 10(-6) to 2.16 x 10(-6) A/cm(2). Hence, the plasma-enhanced densification of PUA created a strong bridge to integrate FeSiAl and organic/inorganic components acquiring dual-function of efficient microwave absorption and anticorrosion, which opened a promising platform for potential practical absorbers.

Automated summary

A robust FeSiAl@PUA@SiO2 hybrid material with efficient microwave absorption and anti-corrosion properties was prepared through plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The dual coat of organic/inorganic layers improved interface properties and optimized impedance matching. This material exhibited highly efficient microwave absorption across the entire Ku-band and effectively protected against corrosion.