Shell Thickness-Dependent Microwave Absorption of Core–Shell Fe₃O₄@C Composites

TLDR

The study proposes Fe3O4@C core–shell composites as promising, highly effective microwave absorbers due to their chemical homogeneity and absorption performance. Fe3O4 microspheres were coated with phenolic resin and then carbonized, allowing the carbon shell thickness (20–70 nm) to be tuned by adjusting the resorcinol‑to‑Fe3O4 ratio. The resulting composites preserve Fe3O4 crystallinity, exhibit partially graphitized amorphous carbon shells, increased permittivity and impedance, and a critical shell thickness that yields strong, high‑frequency reflection loss, markedly enhancing microwave absorption.

Abstract

Core–shell composites, Fe3O4@C, with 500 nm Fe3O4 microspheres as cores have been successfully prepared through in situ polymerization of phenolic resin on the Fe3O4 surface and subsequent high-temperature carbonization. The thickness of carbon shell, from 20 to 70 nm, can be well controlled by modulating the weight ratio of resorcinol and Fe3O4 microspheres. Carbothermic reduction has not been triggered at present conditions, thus the crystalline phase and magnetic property of Fe3O4 micropsheres can be well preserved during the carbonization process. Although carbon shells display amorphous nature, Raman spectra reveal that the presence of Fe3O4 micropsheres can promote their graphitization degree to a certain extent. Coating Fe3O4 microspheres with carbon shells will not only increase the complex permittivity but also improve characteristic impedance, leading to multiple relaxation processes in these composites, thus the microwave absorption properties of these composites are greatly enhanced. Very interestingly, a critical thickness of carbon shells leads to an unusual dielectric behavior of the core–shell structure, which endows these composites with strong reflection loss, especially in the high frequency range. By considering good chemical homogeneity and microwave absorption, we believe the as-fabricated Fe3O4@C composites can be promising candidates as highly effective microwave absorbers.