Fe3O4–graphene hybrids: nanoscale characterization and their enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption in gigahertz range

Li, X; Yi, H; Zhang, J; Feng, J; Li, F; Xue, D; Zhang, H; Peng, Y; Mellors, NJ

Abstract

Fe3O4–graphene hybrid materials have been fabricated by a simple polyol method, and their morphology, chemistry and crystal structure have been characterized at the nanoscale. It is found that each Fe3O4 nanoparticles decorated on the graphene has a polycrystalline fcc spinel structure and a uniform chemical phase. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy suggest that Fe3O4 nanoparticles are chemically bonded to the graphene sheets. Electromagnetic wave absorption shows that the material has a reflection loss exceeding −10 dB in 7.5–18 GHz for an absorber thickness of 1.48–3 mm, accompanying a maximum reflection loss value of −30.1 dB at a 1.48-mm matching thickness and 17.2-GHz matching frequency. Theoretic analysis shows that the electromagnetic wave absorption behavior obeys quarter-wave principles. The results suggest that the magnetic Fe3O4–graphene hybrids are good candidates for the use as a light-weight electromagnetic wave-absorbing material in X- and Ku-bands.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Feb 6, 2013
• Publication Date: Feb 6, 2013
• Deposit Date: Feb 10, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Nanoparticle Research
• Print ISSN: 1388-0764
• Electronic ISSN: 1572-896X
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1472-1
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1472-1
• Related Public URLs: http://link.springer.com/journal/11051