Excellent microwave-absorbing properties of elliptical Fe3O4 nanorings made by a rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach

High-quality elliptical polycrystalline Fe3O4 nanorings (NRs) with continuously tunable size have been synthesized in large amounts via a rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach. The surface-protected glucose reducing/etching/Ostwald ripening mechanism is responsible for the formation of NRs. Ring size can be modulated by selecting iron glycolate nanosheets with various sizes as precursors. The size-dependent magnetic behavior of the NRs was observed. Our research gives insights into the understanding of the microwave absorption mechanism of elliptical Fe3O4 NRs. Owing to their large specific surface area, shape anisotropy, and closed ring-like configuration, elliptical polycrystalline Fe3O4 NRs exhibited significantly enhanced microwave absorption performance compared with Fe3O4 circular NRs, nanosheets, microspheres, nanospindles, and nanotubes. An optimal reflection loss value of -41.59 dB is achieved at 5.84 GHz and R-L values (<=-20 dB) are observed at 3.2-10.4 GHz. Some new mechanisms including multiple scattering, oscillation resonance absorption, microantenna radiation, and interference are also crucial to the enhanced absorption properties of NRs. These findings indicate that ring-like nanostructures are a promising structure for devising new and effective microwave absorbers.