An easy multiple-layer evaporation method to prepare SiO_xC_y sub-microwires with notable transmittance properties

SiC has been widely used as an electromagnetic wave (EMW)-absorbing coating material owing to its high dielectric constant and excellent physical properties. SiO₂ nanomaterials have been used in various microwave communication facilities owing to their high EMW transmittance. Herein, we report a simple method for the preparation of Si, O, and C composite sub-microwires (SMWs) using commercially available silicon wafers, carbon fabric, and quartz fabric as the precursors. The SiO_xC_y SMWs showed enhanced permeability from 2 to 18 GHz. The real part of their dielectric constant was between 3 and 5, the loss tangent varied between 10^–3 and 10^–2, and the average EMW transmittance reached 95% at a thickness of 1–5 mm. The as-prepared SiO_xC_y SMWs show potential for application in radomes because of their simple preparation technique and outstanding EMW penetration properties.