Enhanced magnetic and microwave absorption properties of FeCo-SiO2 nanogranular film functionalized carbon fibers fabricated with the radio frequency magnetron method

The combination of carbon materials with magnetic materials to fabricate new composites has attracted widespread attention due to their strong potential applications as microwave absorbing materials. Here, combining the excellent physical properties of carbon fibers (CFs) with the unique magnetic properties of FeCo-SiO2 nanogranular films, we report a new type of nano-micrometer composite, which is fabricated by a radio frequency magnetron sputtering method at low temperature and high vacuum. The microstructures, phase compositions, mechanical performances, and magnetic and microwave absorption properties of the composites were successfully characterized. After modification with FeCo-SiO2 nanogranular films, the CFs still maintained high strength. The CF/FeCo-SiO2 nanogranular film composites exhibited magnetic properties, where the maximum value of saturation magnetization reached 56 emu/g, and the minimum coercivity reached 95 Oe. In particular, the CF/FeCo-SiO2 nanogranular film composites exhibited strong electromagnetic absorption properties in the range of 2-18 GHz. The absorption bandwidth lower than −10 dB was in the frequency range of 4.08-18 GHz, and the reflection loss reached −43.78 dB at 4.64 GHz with a thickness of 5 mm. The strategy utilized here for the preparation of functionalized CFs paves the way for the development of wave-absorption composites with excellent performances.