Microwave absorption properties of carbon nanotubes and tetrapod-shaped ZnO nanostructures composites

CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites were fabricated using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and tetrapod-shaped ZnO (T-ZnO) nanostructures as absorbents and epoxy resin (EP) as binder. The electromagnetic characteristics and microwave absorption properties of the composites were investigated in the frequency range of 2–18 GHz. The influences of absorbents concentration and composite thickness on microwave absorption properties were studied. When the content of CNTs and T-ZnO nanostructures are 12 wt% and 8 wt%, respectively, and the composite thickness is 1.5 mm, the value of the minimum reflection loss for CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites is −23.00 dB at 12.16 GHz, and the bandwidth corresponding to reflection loss below −10 dB is 5 GHz. Moreover, the mechanism of microwave absorbing for CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites was discussed. The results indicate that CNTs/T-ZnO/EP composites have the potential applications as microwave absorbents with the thin thickness and light weight.