Synthesis of Co3O4@C/Ti3C2Tx MXene composites for enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption

Due to the harmful effects of electromagnetic pollution on human bodies and electronic devices, efficient microwave absorbing materials have garnered significant attention. In this paper, highly efficient microwave-absorbing Co₃O₄@C/Ti₃C₂T_x composites were synthesized by a combination of hydrothermal and electrostatic self-assembly methods. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of the multiple reflections in the Co₃O₄@C core-shell structure and the high conductivity coupled with the large surface area of Ti₃C₂T_x, the composite material, with a mass ratio of 1: 2, exhibits remarkable wave absorption capabilities, achieving a minimum reflection loss (RL) of −35.2 dB at a thickness of 4.5 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 7.4 GHz within the 2–18 GHz frequency range. It is noteworthy that the smaller the RL value, the higher the material's absorption performance, and the wider the frequency range covered by the EAB, the better the overall absorption effect. Specifically, an RL value below −10 dB corresponds to an absorption rate of 90 %, which further enhances to 99 % for RL values below −20 dB. The outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption performance of the Co₃O₄@C/Ti₃C₂T_x composites can be primarily attributed to the synergy between the multiple reflective absorptions offered by the core-shell structure and the exceptional conductivity and high specific surface area inherent in the MXene material. These findings underscore the promising potential of Co₃O₄@C/Ti₃C₂T_x composites for electromagnetic absorption applications and offer a novel perspective for the design of MXene-based magnetic absorption materials.