Ganoderma-derived hierarchically porous carbon with biologically inherited architecture for synergistic electromagnetic attenuation and thermal management

The rapid development of artificial intelligence and next-generation high-frequency communication technologies has increased the demand for electromagnetic (EM) wave-absorbing materials capable of operating under complex environments while maintaining multiple functionalities. In this work, hierarchically porous carbon was prepared using Ganoderma as a natural precursor through carbonization, activation, and heat treatment. The obtained carbon framework inherits the intrinsic biological channels of the Ganoderma scaffold, forming an interconnected porous structure composed of longitudinal macropores and abundant meso/micropores. The optimized GA-800 (heat-treated at 800 °C) sample exhibits efficient microwave absorption performance at a filler loading of 20 wt%, with a minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of −39.6 dB at a thickness of 1.55 mm and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.7 GHz at 1.50 mm. Radar cross-section (RCS) simulations further demonstrate significant scattering suppression. In addition to microwave attenuation, the hierarchically porous carbon also displays hydrophobic behavior (contact angle of 127.5°), thermal insulation capability, and a stable photothermal response. These multifunctional properties originate from the biologically inherited hierarchical porous architecture, which simultaneously regulates EM wave propagation, thermal transport, and surface hydrophobic behavior. This study demonstrates that natural biomass structures can serve as effective templates for constructing lightweight multifunctional EM materials.