Fabrication and characterization of polymer composites surface coated Fe3O4/MWCNTs hybrid buckypaper as a novel microwave-absorbing structure

A naval hybrid buckypaper was fabricated by vacuum filtration method with monodispersion solution of Fe3O4 decorated Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The morphology, element composition and phase structure of hybrid buckypaper were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction. The microwave absorption and complex electromagnetic properties of the composites surface coated MWCNTs buckypaper (or Fe3O4/MWCNTs hybrid buckypaper) have been investigated in the frequency range of 8-18 GHz. The results indicate that the microwave absorption properties of composite structure have been evidently improved due to the Fe3O4/MWCNTs hybrid buckypaper' high magnetic loss and suitable dielectric loss properties. The reflection loss of composite surface coated Fe3O4/MWCNTs hybrid buckypaper (with a matching thickness d=0.1 mm) is below -10 dB in the frequency range of 13-18 GHz, and the minimum value is -15.3 dB at 15.7 GHz. Thus, Fe3O4/MWCNTs hybrid buckypaper can become a promising candidate for electromagnetic-wave-absorption materials with strong-absorption, thin-thickness and light-weight characteristics. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41974.