Waste cotton recycling-based biomass template strategy: Constructing Sm2O3/C heterojunction composite carbon fibers with dual functions of electromagnetic energy recycling and stealth

Microstructure engineering has always been an effective method to regulate the performance of electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. However, there are still serious challenges in designing and controlling the microstructure and further clarifying its mechanism. In this study, a three-dimensional Sm₂O₃/C heterojunction composite carbon fiber was successfully constructed through a biomass template-induced self-assembly strategy. The material achieved a minimum reflection loss of -49.3 dB at a matching thickness of 1.9 mm, with an effective absorption bandwidth covering 3.1 GHz. CST electromagnetic simulation confirmed that the Sm₂O₃/C heterojunction composite carbon fiber structure reduced the material's radar cross section (RCS) by -20.2 dBm². Notably, this biomass template design provides a new idea for the recycling and reuse of electromagnetic energy and thermal energy. By constructing a directional energy transmission channel, the conversion of waste electromagnetic energy to thermal energy can be achieved (with a conversion efficiency of 32 %), providing a dual solution to the problems of electromagnetic pollution and energy waste in the 5G era. The Sm₂O₃/C heterojunction fiber shows important application prospects in the fields of electromagnetic shielding for 5G communication base stations and radar stealth in aerospace.