Oxidized electroplating zinc-covered carbon fibers as microwave absorption materials

Zinc oxide nanosheet/zinc-covered carbon fiber composites (ZNSZCFs) were synthesized by annealing the zinc-covered carbon fibers with electroplating in air. The diameter of the ZNSZCFs was about 25 μm. The strongest RL of ZNSZCFs was −32.98 dB at 3.31 GHz. The strong absorption of ZNSZCFs was less than −4 dB (>65%) over the range of 7.54–18 GHz (1.6 mm in thickness) and 5.96–18 GHz (2.0 mm in thickness), respectively. The ZNSZCFs are believed to be ideal microwave absorbing materials.