Graphene-Wrapped Magnetic Multichamber Ti3C2Tx Spheres for Stable Broadband Microwave Absorption

Abstract

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) have aroused widespread interest in the field of microwave absorption because of their unique layered structures. However, the inherent aggregation, poor impedance matching, and low chemical stability of MXenes inevitably obstruct their practical applications. Herein, a multichamber Fe₃O₄/Ti₃C₂T_x@reduced graphene oxide (FT@RGO) hierarchical structure was constructed through self-assembly and sacrificial template strategies where the Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets were assembled into hollow microspheres that were decorated with Fe₃O₄ nanospheres and wrapped by RGO nanosheets. The massive heterointerfaces and interior cavities favor enhanced microwave absorption performance via interfacial polarization, multiple scattering/reflections, and dielectric-magnetic synergistic effects. Consequently, the synthesized ultralight FT@RGO foam (0.009 g/cm³) presents superior microwave absorption ability with the minimum reflection loss of -50.5 dB at the matching thickness of 2.5 mm and effective absorption bandwidth of 8.0 GHz covering the frequency range of 10.0-18.0 GHz at the thickness of 2 mm. Furthermore, the encapsulation of hollow Ti₃C₂T_x spheres by RGO nanosheets avoids direct contact with external air, which considerably improves the stability of Ti₃C₂T_x and ensures the long-term application of FT@RGO foam in a conventional environment. This work provides a reference for the structural design of MXene-based materials as broadband and durable microwave absorbers.

Keywords: Broadband microwave absorption; Dielectric−magnetic synergistic effects; MXenes; Multichamber structure; Stability improvement.