Microwave absorption properties of multiwalled carbon nanotube/FeNi nanopowders as light-weight microwave absorbers

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and FeNi nanopowders have been facilely synthesized by a simple chemical method. Excellent microwave absorption properties have been obtained due to a proper combination of complex permittivity and permeability which result from the high resistivity of the sintered composite of MWCNTs and the magnetic FeNi nanopowders. The minimum reflection loss (RL) is less than −20 dB at 2.72-18.0 GHz with a thickness between 1.21 and 6.00 mm for 40 wt% MWCNT/FeNi composites, and a minimum RL value of −47.6 dB is observed at 12.09 GHz on a specimen with a matching thickness of 1.79 mm. The frequency of microwave absorption complies with the quarter-wavelength (λ/4) matching model. The MWCNT/FeNi nanopowders are a promising candidate for lightweight microwave absorption materials.