Ti3C2Tx MXene-Based Superhydrophobic Broadband Terahertz Absorber with Large Pore-Size Foam Architecture

Porous polymer-based Terahertz (THz) absorbers possess strong absorption with broadband, lightweight, and flexible features. Thus these are widely desired in THz electromagnetic shielding, radar-cross-section reduction, radiometer calibration, etc. However, the harsh environment of humidity, corrosiveness, and dustiness undermines the performance and service lifetime of the porous absorbers. Here, based on Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene sponge composite foam (MSF), a superhydrophobic broadband THz absorber on a large pore-size porous architecture by a joint hydrophobic strategy is realized. Results show that the apparent contact angles and roll-off angles of the modified MSF reached 159.0° and 7.6°, while maintaining an ultra-high absorption rate of 99.6% in the frequency range of 0.3–1.2 THz. Furthermore, the special Micro-Nano hierarchical structures render the absorber a strong bounce-off ability to the droplets of an aqueous solution. These water-repellent properties endow the absorber the versatility of self-cleaning and anti-corrosion, thus can be widely applied in many scenarios including THz remote sensing, communication, and security screening as well.