Broadband microwave absorbing composites with a multi-scale layered structure based on reduced graphene oxide film as the frequency selective surface

A broadband microwave absorbing composite with a multi-scale layered structure is proposed, in which a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) film sandwiched between two layers of epoxy glass fiber laminates serves as the frequency selective surface (FSS). RGO films with the desired electrical properties were synthesized directly by hydrothermal reaction, vacuum filtration, and heat treatment without subsequent processing. With the novel layer-by-layer structure ranging from micro to macro scale, the optimized composite exhibits excellent microwave absorption performance with a total thickness of 3.2 mm. Its reflection coefficient (RC) is less than -10 dB in the entire X and Ku band, reaching a minimum value of -32 dB at 10.2 GHz and an average RC of -22.8 dB from 8 to 18 GHz. Enhanced microwave absorption of the composites is achieved through the optimization of layer thickness in the sandwich structure to promote destructive interference. Improved impedance matching by the introduction of FSS along with the polarization and conduction loss of layered graphene films also contribute to the increased absorption.