Thanks to its high electrical conductivity, a graphene plane presents a good shielding efficiency against GHz electromagnetic radiations. Several graphene planes separated by thin polymer spacers add their conductivities arithmetically, because each of them conserves the intrinsic properties of isolated graphene. Maximum absorption of radiations for frequency around 30 GHz is achieved with six separated graphene planes, which is the optimum number. This remarkable result is demonstrated experimentally from electromagnetic measurements performed in the Ka band on a series of multilayers obtained by piling 1, 2, 3 … graphene/PMMA units on a silica substrate. Theoretical calculations convincingly explain the observed absorption and transmission data in the GHz domain. It is concluded that graphene/PMMA multilayers can be used as an efficient optically transparent and flexible shielding media.

Fresnel equations predict that an ultrathin free standing conductive film, thousands times thinner than skin depth, is capable to absorb up to 50% of incident electromagnetic radiations. In the microwave range, the same holds true for a free standing graphene sheet. We demonstrate theoretically and prove experimentally that microwave absorptance of graphene can be enhanced considerably by depositing graphene on a dielectric substrate. On the experimental side, we obtain 80% and 65% absorptance at 30 GHz and 1 THz, respectively. Theory predicts that higher absorptance can be achieved with a suitable choice of the dielectric permittivity and the thickness of the substrate. Absorption can also be maximized by choosing the optimum incidence angle for s-polarized waves in free space or by working in the vicinity of the cut-off frequency of the transverse electric mode in waveguide configuration. The polarization sensitivity of the transmittance and reflectance of graphene layers can be used to tune the polarization state of the transmitted and reflected radiations.

Electromagnetic properties of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) films with thickness from 5 to 241 nm are studied experimentally and numerically at 28 GHz. We observe experimentally that PyC films are capable to absorb up to 50% of microwave power in the K a -band. By using boundary conditions in the rectangular waveguide, we demonstrate theoretically that 50% of microwave power can be absorbed in a conductive film with thickness much smaller than the skin depth. The results of modelling for PyC films on silica substrate are in excellent coincidence with the experimental data.

The electromagnetic (EM) properties of polyurethane template-based reticulated carbon foams were investigated in the 26-37 GHz microwave frequency range (Ka-band). It was experimentally proved that carbon foams of a thickness of 2 mm and a density of 22-55 mg cm −3 are almost not transparent to microwave radiation, and this is especially true for the densest ones. Depending on bulk density, the EM response of carbon foams in the microwave region can be mainly accounted for by either reflection or absorption. EM shielding efficiency of more dilute samples is due to absorption mechanisms, whereas denser foams provide up to 80% reflection of EM signals. EM properties of carbon foams in the Ka-band can be accurately predicted by a very simple model based on Fresnel formulae developed in this communication.

Abstract:We studied electromagnetic properties of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) films with thicknesses from 9 nm to 110 nm. The PyC films consisted of randomly oriented and intertwined graphene flakes with a typical size of a few nanometers were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at 1100 °C on a quartz substrate. The reflectance and transmittance of these films in K a -band, 26-37 GHz, were studied both experimentally and theoretically. The discovered remarkably high absorption loss of up to 50% of incident power, along with chemical stability, makes PyC films attractive for electromagnetic (EM) interference shielding in space and airspace communication systems, as well as in portable electronic devices occupying this frequency slot. Since, in practical applications, the PyC film should be employed for coating of dielectric surfaces, two important issues to be addressed are: (i) which side (front or back) of the substrate should be covered to ensure maximum absorption losses; and (ii) the frequency dependence of absorbance/transmittance/reflectance of binary PyC/quartz structures in the K a -band. OPEN ACCESSAppl. Sci. 2014, 4 256