Flexible SiC Nanofiber Films Decorated with MOF-Derived Nanoparticles for Lightweight and High-Efficiency Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Driven by the increasing demands of flexible electronic devices operating in complex electromagnetic environments, the development of lightweight microwave absorbing materials with integrated flexibility, efficient absorption, and thermal stability is of great significance. Herein, a flexible silicon carbide nanofiber film (SZF) decorated with ZIF-8-derived nanoparticles is fabricated through electrospinning followed by high-temperature carbonization. Benefiting from the high aspect ratio and three-dimensional interconnected network of SiC nanofibers, the deformation stress can be effectively dissipated through fiber bending and sliding, endowing SZF with moderate mechanical flexibility. The 3D porous architecture enables incident electromagnetic waves to penetrate deeply into the SiC-based composite network, thereby promoting multiple scattering and reflection effects. Through a metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived strategy, abundant heterogeneous interfaces are introduced within the fibers, coupling the metal modification effect derived from ZIF-8 with the intrinsic dielectric properties and thermal stability of SiC. The ZIF-8-derived nanoparticles exhibit dimensions comparable to those of SiC nanofibers and are uniformly dispersed throughout the SiC matrix, reinforcing interfacial bonding and facilitating charge transport as well as multiple polarization relaxations. These synergistic effects optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic attenuation through increased interfacial polarization and dielectric loss. Consequently, SZF demonstrates strong microwave absorption performance, achieving a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of –56.29 dB at 12.58 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.38 GHz at a thickness of 2.5 mm. This study offers a viable strategy for designing lightweight materials that simultaneously feature flexibility, thermal robustness, and high-efficiency microwave absorption, holding great promise for advanced flexible electromagnetic protection systems.