Continuous iron spreading on carbon-shell composite nanotubes for electromagnetic wave absorption

Abstract Iron-based nanotubes are promising candidates for high performance electromagnetic wave absorbing fillers due to their high aspect ratio, light weight, high axial permeability and high saturation magnetization. Furthermore, the introduction of carbon can improve dielectric loss and block the agglomeration of iron nanotubes. Here, Fe@C composite nanotubes were prepared by introducing carbon onto the surface of precursor α-FeOOH’ fibers followed by hydrogen-thermal annealing. We find that Fe@C composite nanotubes retain the one-dimensional nanostructure of the precursor throughout the annealing. The well-developed lattice and nanostructure of Fe@C nanotubes endow high saturation magnetization, high anisotropy, suppressed eddy current effect and cross-particle exchange coupling as well, and thus contribute to an enhanced permeability. Coatings with Fe@C as fillers achieve a reflection loss of up to −69.34 dB at 3.37 GHz at the matching thickness of 3.97 mm. The Fe@C composite nanotubes developed here are a promising candidate for high performance electromagnetic wave absorbing fillers.