NiFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles supported on cotton-based carbon fibers and their application as a novel broadband microwave absorbent

In this work, NiFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles were successfully supported on cotton-based carbon fibers through a flexible two-step approach consisting of calcination of cotton in a N(2) atmosphere and subsequent hydrothermal reaction. The incorporation of the NiFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles into cotton-based carbon fibers resulted in better impedance matching, leading to better microwave absorption performance than cotton-based carbon fibers and NiFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles. For NiFe(2)O(4)/carbon fibers, reflection loss (RL) values less than −10 dB were obtained in the frequency range of 11.5–18 GHz with 2.4 mm thickness, which covered the entire Ku-band (from 12 to 18 GHz). Meanwhile, when the matching thickness was 3.2 mm, the RL values less than −10 dB were in the range of 8.0–12.7 GHz, which covered the entire X-band (from 8 to 12 GHz). This excellent and interesting microwave absorption performance can satisfy multiple applications. Owing to the characteristics of a cost-effective synthetic route, low density and excellent microwave absorption, the NiFe(2)O(4)/carbon fibers have a promising future in X-band and Ku-band absorption.