Fe-Loaded Two-Dimensional Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Abstract Electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials play a crucial role in modern electronics, particularly in stealth and communication technologies. Carbon-based materials demonstrate considerable potential for the development and use of effective wave-absorbing substances, attributed to their complex structure, lightweight nature, excellent corrosion resistance, and affordability. Notably, nitrogen-doped carbon-based two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit a more pronounced depletion effect on electromagnetic waves owing to their increased specific surface area and numerous polarization states. This article presents the successful synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) 2D flakes using a hydrothermal method. In addition, single Fe atoms were successfully incorporated onto their surfaces, forming Fe@NC. The wave-absorbing capabilities of the Fe@NC samples were considerably improved, achieving a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −69.22 dB at 11.48 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.79 GHz. The enhancement in electromagnetic wave absorption is attributed to the synergistic effects of magnetic loss, relaxation processes, dipole polarization, and electrical conduction loss. The successful synthesis of Fe@NC opens up new avenues for the development of atomically dispersed wave-absorbing materials.