Enhanced permittivity and multi-region microwave absorption of nanoneedle-like ZnO in the X-band at elevated temperature

We fabricated nanoneedle-like ZnO (ZnOn) by a facile combustion synthesis route, demonstrating the original observations on the complex permittivity of ZnOn ranging from 298 to 573 K and in the X band. Both real and imaginary permittivities (epsilon' and epsilon '') of ZnOn depend on temperature and frequency. The epsilon' increases while the epsilon '' possesses a maximum value with increasing temperature. The maximum value of epsilon '' appears at 473 K, and the corresponding loss tangent increases by 100% than that at 298 K. The relaxations in epsilon '' mainly arise from dipole polarization and interfacial polarization in ZnOn. Multi-region microwave absorption of ZnOn appears at the investigated temperature and frequency as well as thickness. The minimum reflection loss value reaches -44 dB, which is superior to the previous reports. These findings provide a novel and feasible strategy to tune microwave absorption towards a structural absorber at elevated temperature.