Surface modification of MWCNT with cluster form of Fe2O3/Fe3O4 NPs for improving their microwave absorption performance

The Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) decorated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by a three-step synthesis method as the following: (1) Fe2O3 was produced in polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrix; (2) PEG-Fe2O3 NPs covered with Fe3O4 to obtain Fe2O3/Fe3O4 NPs; (3) MWCNTs decorated by an optimum weight ratio of the Fe2O3/Fe3O4 NPs. The produced Fe2O3/Fe3O4/MWCNT nanocomposite, in which the clusters of Fe2O3/Fe3O4 NPs decorated on the MWCNT's surface, exhibits an excellent absorption performance and a broad effective bandwidth. The strongest reflection loss and the broadest bandwidth reached to -72.17 dB and 8.80 GHz for 2.8 mm and 2.4 mm matching thicknesses, respectively.