Fabrication of monodispersed, uniform rod-shaped FeCO3/CoCO3 microparticles using a facile solvothermal method and their excellent microwave absorbing properties

•Monodispersed, uniform rod-shaped FeCO3/CoCO3 microparticles are synthesized.•Reflection loss is less than −10 dB in the frequency range of 6.72–15.92 GHz.•The minimum RL value at 12.88 GHz is −31.86 dB.

Over a long period of time, single iron oxide (Fe2O3) or cobalt oxide (Co2O3) has been extensively studied for magnetic absorbing materials. Recently, some nanoscale compounds composed of two ferrites have been reported for better electromagnetic absorbing properties because of collectively corporation. However, there are few reports about other magnetic absorbing materials. In addition, morphology control for better absorbing performance remains challenging. Here, the monodispersed, uniform rod-shaped FeCO3/CoCO3 microparticles are successfully synthesized by a facile one-step solvothermal method for the first time. The experimental results show that the reflection loss (RL) value of the paraffin composites with thickness of 2.0 mm is less than −10 dB in the frequency range of 6.72–15.92 GHz and the minimum RL value of −31.86 dB at 12.88 GHz is obtained, which demonstrates that the as-prepared FeCO3/CoCO3 microparticles have excellent magnetic and microwave absorbing properties.

Graphical abstractUniform rod-shaped FeCO3/CoCO3 microparticles are successfully synthesized for the first time. Reflection loss value of the sample is less than −10 dB in the frequency range of 6.72–15.92 GHz with the minimum RL value of −31.86 dB at 12.88 GHz, which demonstrates that the as-prepared FeCO3/CoCO3 microparticles have excellent magnetic and microwave absorbing properties.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide