J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2025, Vol. 214: 302-312.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2024.07.014

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Micro-sized hexapod-like CuS/Cu9S5 hybrid with broadband electromagnetic wave absorption

Mengjun Hana, Di Lanb, Zhiming Zhangc, Yizhi Zhaoc, Jiaxiao Zoua, Zhenguo Gaod, Guanglei Wud,*, Zirui Jiaa,*   

  1. aCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China;
    bSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University of Automotive Technology, Shiyan 442002, China;
    cQueen Mary University of London Engineering School, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China;
    dInstitute of Materials for Energy and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Bio-fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
  • Received:2024-06-12 Revised:2024-07-06 Accepted:2024-07-07 Published:2025-04-10 Online:2025-04-05
  • Contact: *E-mail addresses: wuguanglei@qdu.edu.cn (G. Wu), jiazirui@qdu.edu.cn (Z. Jia)

Abstract: Reasonable manipulation of component and microstructure is considered as a potential route to realize high-performance microwave absorber. In this paper, micro-sized hexapod-like CuS/Cu9S5 composites were synthesized via a facile approach involving the solvothermal method and subsequent sulfuration treatment. The resultant CuS/Cu9S5 exhibited superb microwave absorbing capacity with a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -59.38 dB at 2.7 mm. The maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) was 7.44 GHz (10.56-18 GHz) when the thickness was reduced to 2.3 mm. The outstanding microwave absorbing ability of CuS/Cu9S5 composites is mainly related to its unique hexapod shape and the formation of heterogeneous interfaces. The unique hexapod shape significantly promotes the multi-reflection of the incident electromagnetic wave (EMW) increasing the attenuation path of EMWs in the material. Heterogeneous interfaces between CuS/Cu9S5 enable powerful interface polarization, contributing to the attenuation of EMWs propagating in the medium. In addition, the EMW absorption performance of CuS/Cu9S5 composites is also inseparable from the conduction loss. This study provides a strong reference for the research of EMW absorbent materials based on transition metal sulfides.

Key words: Heterogeneous interface, Hexapod shape, Transition metal sulfide, Electromagnetic wave absorption