Construction of Ni-based alloys decorated sucrose-derived carbon hybrid towards: effective microwave absorption application

High efficiency and broad bandwidth wave absorption materials are urgent need in daily life for human health. Carbon material (graphene, etc.) is widely used in electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption field for light weight, high surface area, and excellent electrical conductivity. However, the immoderate conductivity of the carbon will also cause the impedance mismatch and need more consideration. We have synthesized sucrose-derived carbon-based hybrid absorbers, and a series of Ni-based alloys (Ni, Fe–Ni, Co–Ni) are decorated on the surface of the carbon. Consequently, the Ni/C composite shows a maximum attenuation constant, and an ultra-broad wide effective bandwidth of 6.24 GHz with an optimal reflection loss (RL) value of − 20.5 dB located at thickness of only 1.7 mm. The Co–Ni/C composite has an improved impedance matching level, and shows the optimal RL of − 34.3 dB located at a thickness of 3.3 mm with an effective bandwidth of 4.24 GHz. The Fe–Ni/C composite shows an optimal RL among all the samples of − 42.3 dB located at a thickness of 5.7 mm with the effective bandwidth of 2.8 GHz. The Ni-based alloys decorated sucrose-derived carbon hybrid can be a proper candidate for microwave absorption as its light-weight outstanding EMW absorption property. Graphical abstract: The Ni-based alloys decorated sucrose-derived carbon hybrid for microwave absorption [Figure not available: see fulltext.]