MOF-derived multicore-shell Fe3O4@Fe@C composite: An ultrastrong electromagnetic wave absorber

Excessive artificial electromagnetic radiation poses significant health risks and disrupts military equipment. To address this, high-performance microwave absorption materials are urgently required. While ferromagnetic materials have excellent absorption but suffer from high density, limited bandwidth, and perishable properties. Carbon materials, especially metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), offer promise due to low density, chemical stability, and high conductivity. In this study, we synthesized a novel multicore-shell Fe3O4@Fe@C composite via solvothermal and in-situ pyrolysis methods. This composite integrated Zn-MOF-derived porous carbon with core-shell Fe3O4@Fe@C, enabling multiple electromagnetic wave routes, strong interfacial polarization, and magnetic-dielectric synergy. It exhibited exceptional electromagnetic wave absorption, with a -59.1 dB reflection loss at 13.36 GHz and a 5.36 GHz effective absorption bandwidth. Our innovative MOF-core-shell approach holds great promise for highly efficient microwave absorbers to mitigate artificial electromagnetic radiation's adverse effects on health and military equipment.

Automated summary

Excessive artificial electromagnetic radiation poses significant health risks and disrupts military equipment. Carbon materials, especially metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), offer promise due to low density, chemical stability, and high conductivity. In this study, we synthesized a novel multicore-shell Fe3O4@Fe@C composite with exceptional electromagnetic wave absorption, enabling multiple electromagnetic wave routes, strong interfacial polarization, and magnetic-dielectric synergy.