Electromagnetic wave absorbing properties of carbon nanotubes doped rare metal/pure carbon nanotubes double-layer polymer composites

The design of double-layer structure could improve the absorbing properties of electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing composites. Doping of rare metal (RM) could enhance the EM wave absorbing capability of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In this paper, the polymer matrix composites with the different RM-doped MWCNTs and the pure MWCNTs as the absorber in the first and second layer respectively was fabricated (4 mm in thickness). The EM wave absorbing properties of these composites were studied. The results show all reflection loss curves of these composites have two absorption peaks in the frequency range of 2–18 GHz, and the reflection loss (<−10 dB) of the MWCNTs doped Ni is the widest from the absorption bandwidth (maximum is 5.28 GHz), relatively.

► The design of double-layer structure could have good absorption property due to the impedance match of composites.
► Carbon nanotubes doped rare metal as the absorber.
► It is possible to modify absorption properties of carbon nanotubes by doping different rare metal based on different needs.