The preparation of
graphene aerogel by hydrothermal or chemical
reduction has been one of the hot topics of research. But in the process
of assembly, the random weak connection of GO flakes leads to irreversible
deformation under compression, and the mechanical stability of aerogel
based on graphene is one of its drawbacks that is hard to overcome.
Here, a novel method to prepare graphene aerogel with high mechanical
stability was proposed via combining surface support brought by metallic-CNT
networks and interfacial cross-linking of GO sheets achieved by nanoparticle
selective absorption. Thoroughly dispersed metallic-CNTs absorbed
on the basal plane of GO flakes formed continuous network structures,
which not only improve the mechanical performance of flakes but also
provide steric effects to impel the adsorption of metallic oxide magnetic
nanoparticles concentrated on the edge of GO flakes, thereby guaranteeing
the interfacial connection of adjacent rGO flakes by nanoparticle
cross-linking. Meanwhile, the surface and interface reinforce approach
can greatly improve the electrical conductivity and mechanical stability
of composites. Owing to the light weight,
abundant interface, high electrical conductivity, combined with the
superparamagnetic properties brought by the magnetic nanoparticles,
composite aerogel with high mechanical stability and excellent microwave
absorption was achieved, of which the effective absorption bandwidth
of the aerogel is 4.4–18 GHz and the maximum value can reach
−49 dB. This approach could not only be used to prepare microwave
absorption materials with light weight
and high performance but also be meaningful to enlarge the construction
and application of carbon-based materials.