Iron carbide interface modulating for synergies of 3D-graphene-like and iron-coated Fe3O4 particles for high microwave absorption performance

Interface modulation of graphene and magnetic particles for synergistic dielectric loss and magnetic loss is a feasible approach to realize ideal absorbing materials with a light weight, low thickness, wide bandwidth and strong absorption. In this work, an interface of iron carbide (FeC) was formed between 3D-graphene-like and Fe-coated Fe 3 O 4 particles by a vacuum heating treatment method using ferric nitrate and glucose as precursors. It is concluded that the FeC interface was formed at limited temperatures, not only producing high interface polarization but also maximizing the synergistic effect of dielectric loss in 3D-graphene-like and magnetic loss in Fe 3 O 4 . The obtained 3D-graphene/FeC/Fe/Fe 3 O 4 hybrids exhibit comprehensively optimal microwave absorption performance with a reflection loss of − 53.52 dB and a broad effective absorption bandwidth of 5.28 GHz@ <10 dB at a thickness of only 1.75 mm, showing great potential for practical applications in the field of electromagnetic absorption.