Synthesis of Fe/SiO2 composite particles and their superior electromagnetic properties in microwave band

Fe/SiO2 composite particles were synthesized by hydrogen reduction of Fe2O3/SiO2 precursor, which was prepared by sol–gel method. A reduction temperature higher than 600 °C is required for the complete conversion of Fe2O3 to Fe. Fe/SiO2 composite particles exhibit superior complex permittivity and permeability in the microwave band. A reflection loss higher than − 70 dB as well as a broad absorption band can be simultaneously obtained for Fe/SiO2-based coatings about 2 mm in thickness, suggesting that the Fe/SiO2 composite particles are a promising candidate for high performance electromagnetic absorption materials.