High efficiency electromagnetic waves absorption of ferrite/polypyrrole composite based on precise structural control of rare earth doping

Structural manipulation plays a crucial role in material design, exerting a significant influence on various aspects of material performance. However, the impact of material microstructure on electromagnetic waves absorption properties has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, based on ferrites, we controlled the microstructural morphology by doping with light rare earth element Nd, and then formed heterogeneous structures through composite polypyrrole to enhance its performance. The structural changes in neodymium-doped ferrites and their corresponding variations in performance were systematically analyzed. The results indicate that Nd 3+ ions doping has a pronounced effect on the microstructure of ferrites, significantly improving their dielectric loss capability for electromagnetic waves. The sample with optimal performance, Sr 0.75 Nd 0.25 Co 2 Fe 16 O 27 @PPy, has a value of minimum reflection loss that can reach −63.11 dB, and the effective absorption bandwidth achieves 6.40 GHz at 2.27 mm. This study provides instructive thinking for the structural manipulation of MA materials. Graphic abstract