Integrating non-planar metamaterials with magnetic absorbing materials to yield ultra-broadband microwave hybrid absorbers

Broadening the bandwidth of electromagnetic wave absorbers has greatly challenged material scientists. Here, we propose a two-layer hybrid absorber consisting of a non-planar metamaterial (MM) and a magnetic microwave absorbing material (MAM). The non-planar MM using magnetic MAMs instead of dielectric substrates shows good low frequency absorption and low reflection across a broad spectrum. Benefiting from this and the high frequency strong absorption of the MAM layer, the lightweight hybrid absorber exhibits 90% absorptivity over the whole 2-18 GHz range. Our result reveals a promising and flexible method to greatly extend or control the absorption bandwidth of absorbers. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.