Design and synthesis of non-homogeneous CoS2/carbon composite nanofibers for enhanced microwave absorption

Abstract

This paper presents a novel composite material composed of cobalt sulfide (CoS₂) and carbon nanofibers, designed for efficient microwave absorption. Through electrospinning and high-temperature processing, CoS₂ nanoparticles are embedded within porous carbon fibers, forming non-homogeneous CoS₂ composite nanofibers. The material demonstrates outstanding microwave absorption properties, achieving a minimum reflection loss of −59.84 dB at 11.1 GHz and an effective microwave absorption bandwidth of 4.9 GHz. To investigate the structure and properties of CoS₂/carbon composite nanofibers, multiple characterization techniques were utilized, and the results revealed the uniform distribution of CoS₂ nanoparticles and their interaction with carbon fibers. Additionally, theoretical calculations were carried out to analyze the material's electronic structure and dielectric properties, shedding light on the polarization and conduction loss mechanisms that contribute to microwave attenuation. Radar cross-section (RCS) simulations further show that CoS₂/carbon composite nanofibers can significantly reduce the strong electromagnetic scattering of the metal backplane, demonstrating its potential in avoiding radar wave detection. By examining impedance matching and electromagnetic attenuation mechanisms, this study provides valuable insights for the development of advanced microwave absorbers.