Fe3O4 nanoparticles decorate bamboo clean and sustainable strategies for efficient electromagnetic absorption

The rapid proliferation of electronic devices and wireless communication technologies has led to growing concerns about electromagnetic (EM) interference and pollution. In this study, a sustainable and highly effective EM wave-absorbing material was developed by in situ decorating moso bamboo with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles using a hydrothermal co-precipitation method. The intrinsic three-dimensional porous architecture of bamboo, combined with its abundant functional groups and excellent mechanical strength, provided an ideal scaffold for the uniform loading and stable dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles. Compared with conventional pyrolysis-based methods, this low-temperature approach preserved the structural integrity of the bamboo matrix while significantly enhancing its electromagnetic properties. Morphological and structural characterizations confirmed the successful synthesis of well-crystallized Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles uniformly anchored onto the bamboo cell walls. At a thickness of 1.9 mm, electromagnetic measurements revealed that the optimized sample (B-1.5) achieved an outstanding minimum reflection loss (RL) of −72.8 dB, outperforming other sample variants. The exceptional microwave absorption performance was attributed to the synergistic interplay among dielectric loss, magnetic loss, and multiple internal reflections within the material. Moreover, CST simulations combined with radar cross-section (RCS) analyses further validated the excellent attenuation capability of B-1.5 under various incident wave angles. This study offers an environmentally friendly and scalable strategy for the development of biomass-derived electromagnetic absorbing materials, highlighting the substantial potential of magnetic bamboo-based composites for applications in stealth technology and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. • In situ decorating moso bamboo with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. • The reflection loss of the prepared magnetic wood can reach −72.8 dB. • Established a radar attenuation model.