Micro-sized hexapod-like CuS/Cu9S5 hybrid with broadband electromagnetic wave absorption

Reasonable manipulation of component and microstructure is considered as a potential route to realize high-performance microwave absorber. In this paper, micro-sized hexapod-like CuS/Cu 9 S 5 composites were synthesized via a facile approach involving the solvothermal method and subsequent sulfuration treatment. The resultant CuS/Cu 9 S 5 exhibited superb microwave absorbing capacity with a minimum reflection loss (RL min ) of -59.38 dB at 2.7 mm. The maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB max ) was 7.44 GHz (10.56-18 GHz) when the thickness was reduced to 2.3 mm. The outstanding microwave absorbing ability of CuS/Cu 9 S 5 composites is mainly related to its unique hexapod shape and the formation of heterogeneous interfaces. The unique hexapod shape significantly promotes the multi-reflection of the incident electromagnetic wave (EMW) increasing the attenuation path of EMWs in the material. Heterogeneous interfaces between CuS/Cu 9 S 5 enable powerful interface polarization, contributing to the attenuation of EMWs propagating in the medium. In addition, the EMW absorption performance of CuS/Cu 9 S 5 composites is also inseparable from the conduction loss. This study provides a strong reference for the research of EMW absorbent materials based on transition metal sulfides.