Multi-optimized flexible graphene oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/ferroferric oxide nanopaper with enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption performance

The imbalance between electromagnetic loss and impedance matching due to imperfect regulation of the components and structure is the main reason why it is difficult to obtain high-performance electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption materials. Moreover, the wide, stable, and convenient use of high-performance absorber is the ultimate goal of EMW absorbing materials research. In this work, a flexible nanopaper with three-dimensional network structure composed of point (ferroferric oxide: Fe₃O₄)-line (multi-walled carbon nanotubes: MWCNTs)-surface (graphene oxide: GO) was designed and fabricated. The nanopaper has high EMW absorption performance, excellent flexibility, mechanical strength, and stability, which has a wide range of application scenario. The multi-optimized GO/MWCNTs/Fe₃O₄ nanopaper P-2 has rich heterogeneous interface formed by the uniform multicomponent distribution, the perfect conductive network constructed by the three-dimensional structure, and abundant internal voids formed between the GO layers. The regular three-dimensional network structure of nanopaper not only improves the electromagnetic loss and impedance matching performance and promotes the balance between them, but also gives the nanopaper good flexibility. As results, the nanopaper delivers exceptional effective absorption bandwidth of 8.70 GHz, reflection loss of −40.6 dB, and tensile strength of 3.32 MPa. This work reveals the importance of multi-optimized structure and composition for EMW absorption, and provides an efficient and stable flexible nanopaper absorption material. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].