Microwave absorption properties of the ZnO nanowire-polyester composites

We report on the microwave response properties of the ZnO nanowire-polyester composites fabricated into a planar plate with the area of 180x180 mm(2) and the thickness of about 1 mm. Strong microwave absorption has been observed in X band and the maximum absorption is enhanced as the concentration of the nanowires increases in the composites. Both the low complex permittivity and the low dissipation of the pure nanowires demonstrate the pure nanowires are low-loss materials for microwave absorption in X band. The strong absorption is related to interfacial multipoles at the interface between the polyester and the ZnO nanowires, a high surface-to-volume ratio and a similar shape of the nanowires to antenna. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.