Design of lightweight broadband microwave absorbers in the X-band based on (polyaniline/MnNiZn ferrite) nanocomposites

We present the design of novel, lightweight, broadband microwave absorbers based on polyaniline/Mn0.1Ni0.45Zn0.45Fe2O4 (PANI/MnNiZn ferrite) nanocomposites. The ferrite is synthesized by sol-gel technique. Then, the polymer is deposited by in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The structural and morphological characterizations of the composites are investigated by SEM, XRD, FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The functional characterization is performed by measuring the dc-conductivity and microwave absorption characteristics in the X-band. The absorbers exhibit broad bandwidths under - 10 dB ranging from 2.60 to 3.74 GHz and low surface density ranging from 2.5 to 3.1 kg/m(2). The absorber of 3.74 GHz bandwidth has a minimum reflection loss of - 31.32dB at 11.13 GHz with a matching thickness of 3 mm and a low loading in paraffin of only 25% w/w. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.