Hierarchical rGO/MXene aerogels assembled with SiC nanowires for excellent electromagnetic wave absorption and multifunctionality

Two-dimensional nanomaterials have garnered significant attention for electromagnetic wave absorption applications. However, developing effective microwave absorption materials suitable for complex environments remains a significant challenge. In this study, multifunctional rGO/MXene/SiC nanowires (GMS) aerogels are synthesized through a hydrothermal and electrostatic self-assembly method. The three-dimensional rGO/MXene skeleton with a hierarchical porous structure endows GMS aerogel with low density (11.4 mg cm −3 ) and thermal conductivity (30.1 mW·m −1 ·K −1 ). The incorporation of SiC nanowire enhances the mechanical properties of the aerogel, achieving a compressive strength of approximately 7.64 kPa at 30 % strain. Furthermore, SiC nanowire introduces numerous heterogeneous interfaces, which regulate electrical conductivity and improve impedance matching. The presence of abundant lattice defects and functional groups contributes to the exceptional microwave absorption performance of the aerogel, which achieves a minimum reflection loss of −81.04 dB at a thickness of 2.68 mm with a low filling ratio of 5.5 wt%. The effective absorption bandwidth covers the entire Ku band with an optimal thickness range from 2.58 to 2.81 mm. Additionally, the aerogel demonstrates excellent pressure-sensing capability, responding rapidly to various human movements. Therefore, this study provides a promising design strategy for high-performance microwave absorbers with multifunctionality.