Multiprincipal Element M2FeC (M = Ti,V,Nb,Ta,Zr) MAX Phases with Synergistic Effect of Dielectric and Magnetic Loss

Electromagnetic (EM) wave pollution is harmful to human health and environment, thus it is absolutely important to develop new electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. MAX phases have been attracted more attention as a potential candidate for electromagnetic wave absorbing materials due to their high conductivity and nanolaminated structure. Herein, two new magnetic MAX phases with multiprincipal elements ((Ti1/3Nb1/3Ta1/3)(2)FeC and (Ti0.2V0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Zr0.2)(2)FeC) in which Fe atoms replace Al atoms in the A sites are successfully synthesized by an isomorphous replacement reaction of multiprincipal (Ti1/3Nb1/3Ta1/3)(2)AlC and (Ti0.2V0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Zr0.2)(2)AlC MAX phases with Lewis acid salt (FeCl2). (Ti1/3Nb1/3Ta1/3)(2)FeC and (Ti0.2V0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2Zr0.2)(2)FeC exhibit ferromagnetic behavior, and the Curie temperature (T-c) are 302 and 235 K, respectively. The dual electromagnetic absorption mechanisms that include dielectric and magnetic loss, which is realized in these multiprincipal MAX phases. The minimum reflection loss (RL) of (Ti1/3Nb1/3Ta1/3)(2)FeC is -44.4 dB at 6.56 GHz with 3 mm thickness, and the effective bandwidth is 2.48 GHz. Additionally, the electromagnetic wave absorption properties of the magnetic MAX phases indicate that magnetic loss also plays an important role besides dielectric loss. This work shows a promising composition-design strategy to develop MAX phases with good EM wave absorption performance via simultaneously regulating dielectric and magnetic loss together.

Automated summary

Electromagnetic (EM) wave pollution is harmful and it is crucial to develop new electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. Magnetic MAX phases with high conductivity and nanolaminated structure have attracted attention as potential candidates. Two new magnetic MAX phases were successfully synthesized by replacing Al atoms in the A sites with Fe atoms. These MAX phases exhibit ferromagnetic behavior and dual electromagnetic absorption mechanisms including dielectric and magnetic loss. The minimum reflection loss of one of the phases is -44.4 dB at 6.56 GHz with 3 mm thickness, and the effective bandwidth is 2.48 GHz. The electromagnetic wave absorption properties indicate the importance of magnetic loss along with dielectric loss. This work shows a promising composition-design strategy for developing MAX phases with good EM wave absorption performance by regulating both dielectric and magnetic loss simultaneously.