Integration of multi-polarization and microscale magnetic coupling in Co/NC for efficient electromagnetic wave absorption

Magnetoelectric composite is an effective strategy for increasing microwave attenuation and optimizing impedance matching to improve the electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption properties of microwave absorbers. However, establishing the relationship between the composition, structure, and properties of magnetoelectric coupling materials remains a challenge. Herein, cobalt/N-doped carbon (Co/NC) with multiple interfaces was designed and prepared by a magnetoelectric synergistic strategy. The Co/NC composites exhibited an effective absorption bandwidth of 7.68 GHz at a low filler loading of 15 wt%. At a matching thickness of 3.5 mm, the minimum reflection loss reached −54.0 dB. In the RCS simulation, the Co/NC coating exhibited remarkable radar stealth properties, maintaining RCS values below −20 dB m² across all angles. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations and electron holography were applied to confirm that the excellent EMW absorption properties of Co/NC were primarily stem from the integration of multi-polarization and microscale magnetic coupling. Collectively, these findings highlight the magnetoelectric synergistic effect and interface coupling response mechanism in Co/NC heterostructures, offering a viable strategy for developing high-performance magnetoelectric composite microwave absorbers.