Microwave absorption properties of 3D cross-linked Fe/C porous nanofibers prepared by electrospinning

Well dispersed core/shell structure Fe nanopowders (FeNPs) produced by high energy ion beam evaporation (HEIBE) are added to polyacrylonitrile/N, N-Dimethylformamide (PAN/DMF) solution containing vegetable oil to prepare Fe/C porous nanofibers (FeCPNFs) by electrospinning as electromagnetic microwave absorption material. The FeCPNFs have 3D cross-linked network structure with low graphitization degree. The permittivity and permeability behaviors of the composites made from FeCPNFs and wax are studied in the frequency range of 2.00–18.00 GHz. Mainly due to impedance matching, electric loss, magnetic loss, attenuation constant and “geometrical effect” the FeCPNFs have good microwave absorption properties. The reflection loss (RL) of FeCPNFs can reach − 56.6 dB at matching frequency (4.96 GHz) and matching thickness (4.29 mm). The RL value can also reach −26.1 dB at 11.68 GHz, and effective absorption bandwidth (RL ≤ − 10.0 dB) is 3.00 GHz with a thickness of 2.00 mm. Moreover, under the matching frequency and matching thickness a good absorption performance (RL ≤ − 15.0 dB) from 2.00 GHz to 18.00 GHz is obtained.