Lightweight, Low-Cost Co2SiO4@diatomite Core-Shell Composite Material for High-Efficiency Microwave Absorption

The porous and biomimetic cobalt silicate@diatomite (Co2SiO4@diatomite) was successfully synthesized by a two-step method, including the hydrothermal method and calcination to improve the electromagnetic wave absorption property. Different hydrothermal times were well-tuned for Co2SiO4@diatomite composites with different loadings of Co2SiO4. Interestingly, the Co2SiO4@diatomite composites (6 h, 25 wt%) had a smaller minimum reflection loss. Moreover, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) could reach -12.03 dB at 16.64 GHz and the matched absorber thickness was 10 mm, while the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL <= -10 dB) could be 1.92 GHz. In principle, such findings indicate that Co2SiO4@diatomite nanocomposites could be a promising candidate for high-efficiency microwave absorption capability.

Automated summary

In this study, a porous and biomimetic cobalt silicate@diatomite material was successfully synthesized, and its electromagnetic wave absorption property was improved by controlling the composition and structure of the material. The experimental results showed that the Co2SiO4@diatomite composites exhibited low reflection loss and a wide absorption bandwidth, indicating promising high-efficiency microwave absorption capability.