Bird-Nest-Like Multi-Interfacial MXene@SiC_NWs@Co/C Hybrids with Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Newly emerged two-dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides (MXenes) have attracted considerable interest in the field of electromagnetic wave absorption, but their excessive conductivity and single loss mechanism limit their applicability. Herein, an MXene decorated with SiC NWs @Co/C was prepared by in situ growth and carbonization processes, followed by electrostatic self-assembly. The electromagnetic wave absorption performance of MXene@SiC NWs @Co/C with a bird-nest-like structure could be effectively regulated and optimized by changing the proportion of MXene and SiC NWs @Co/C. The prepared MXene@SiC NWs @Co/C hybrid absorbers reveal superior impedance matching, complementary dissipation mechanism, and plentiful heterointerfaces. Profiting from the synergy of abovementioned factors, the resultant MXene@SiC NWs @Co/C absorber exhibits an optimum reflection loss (RL) value of −76.5 dB at 6.36 GHz under a thickness of 3.9 mm and broad effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL ≤ −10 dB) of 6.2 GHz (11.8–18.0 GHz) with a thickness of only 2.0 mm, covering the entire Ku band. This work offers new insights into designing and fabricating highly efficient MXene-based electromagnetic absorbers.