Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have diverse structures
and compositions, inspiring the boundless enthusiasm and creativity
of researchers in the field of electromagnetism. The synthesis of
MOF-derived nanomaterials for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption
with ultrathin matching thickness (below 1.6 mm) is highly desired
and challenging. Here, we demonstrate a general synthesis strategy
for metal (Co, Ni, Fe)-based MOFs, which transformed into metal/metal-oxide
nanoparticles (NPs) of being coated by nitrogen (N)-doped graphitized
carbon. The obtained carbon-coated NPs show excellent EMW absorption
properties. Specifically, Co-based MOFs are pyrolyzed into rhombic
dodecahedrons with numerous ultrasmall Co NPs coated by N-doped carbon
(Co-NC core–shell NPs). The synthesized Co-NC core–shell
NPs possess a unique porous structure, abundant defects, and doped
N heteroatoms, resulting in good magnetic loss (eddy current loss),
dielectric loss (multiple reflections, interfacial polarization, conduction
loss), and impedance matching. Therefore, the Co-NC core–shell
NPs exhibit an excellent EMW absorption property with a very strong
reflection loss of −56.5 dB at a matching thickness of only
1.58 mm. The effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is 4.4 GHz. In addition,
the EAB between 1 and 5 mm in thickness is up to 13.2 GHz, which already
includes all C bands and X bands, even the absolute S bands and Ku
bands. This work provides an avenue to design high-performance EMW
absorption devices based on MOF-derived nanomaterials.
Constructing the strong interaction between the matrix
and the
active centers dominates the design of high-performance electromagnetic
wave (EMW) absorption materials. However, the interaction-relevant
absorption mechanism is still unclear, and the design of ultrahigh
reflection loss (R
L < −80 dB)
absorbers remains a great challenge. Herein, CoFe-based Prussian blue
(PB) nanocubes are coprecipitated on the surface of ultrathin CoAl-LDH
nanoplates with the assistance of unsaturated coordination sites.
During the subsequent pyrolysis process, CoAl-LDH serves as a “ligand”
providing a Co source and reacts with Fe or C in the CoFe-PB “host”
to form stable CoFe alloys or CoC
x
species.
As a result, strong reactions emerged between the CoAl-LDH matrix
and the active CoFe-CoC
x
@NC centers. Based
on the experimental results, the CoAl/CoFe-CoC
x
@NC hierarchical heterostructure delivers good dielectric
losses (dipolar polarization, interface polarization, and conductive
loss), magnetic losses (eddy current loss, natural resonance, and
exchange resonance), and impedance matching, resulting in a remarkable
EMW absorption performance with a reflection loss (R
L) value of −82.1 dB at a matching thickness of
3.8 mm. Theoretical results (commercial CST) identify that the strong
interaction between the 2D CoAl-LDH “ligand” and 2D
CoFe-CoC
x
“host” promotes
a robust heterointerface among the nanoparticles, nanosheets, and
nanoplates, which extremely contribute to the dielectric loss. Meanwhile,
the coupling effect of nanosheets and nanoplates greatly contributes
to the matching performance. This work provides an aggressive strategy
for the effect of ligands and hosts on high-performance EMW absorption.
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