Multifunctional Nd₂O₃/CNFs Composite for Microwave Absorption and Anti-Corrosion Applications

To improve the limitations of traditional microwave absorbing materials (MAMs), such as high density and narrow absorption bandwidth, neodymium oxide/carbon nanofiber (Nd2O3/CNF) composites were successfully prepared by electrospinning technology combined with a high-temperature carbonization process. The three-dimensional network structure of CNFs provides a path for conducting electromagnetic waves, and its porous structure also increases the multiple reflections of electromagnetic waves in the composite fibers, which significantly attenuates the energy of electromagnetic waves. Additionally rare-earth elements have a unique electronic arrangement on the 4f electron layer. The addition of Nd2O3 can turn the dielectric constant of Nd2O3/CNF and optimize the impedance matching. Also, Nd2O3 nanoparticles (Nd2O3-NPs) resulted in numerous of heterojunction surfaces and introduced the magnetic loss mechanism. Under the combined action of the double loss mechanism, the minimum reflection loss of Nd2O3/CNF composite fiber is -66.7 dB at 9.36 GHz, and the effective absorption bandwidth is 4.4 GHz (7.68-12.08 GHz). The radar cross section simulation results also prove that the composite fibers exhibit strong consumption of electromagnetic waves. Additionally, the excellent flexibility and anticorrosion properties of the composite fibers make them satisfy the multifunctional requirements of MAMs.