CeFe₂O₄ Nanoparticle/Graphene Oxide Composites with Synergistic Superhydrophobicity and Microwave Absorption

High-performance superhydrophobic electromagnetic (EM) wave-absorbing materials are critically significant for their practical application in harsh environments, especially in high-humidity conditions. Herein, a CeFe2O4/GO hybrid was successfully constructed via a facile hydrothermal method, which was then combined with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to achieve the synergistic effect of outstanding EM wave absorption ability and superhydrophobicity. The structure and composition of the prepared hybrid were confirmed with the help of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Meanwhile, a vector network analyzer was used for assessing the microwave absorbing performance of the fabricated composite. Eventually, the CeFe2O4/GO hybrid exhibited a minimum reflection loss (RL) of −57 dB at 15.2 GHz with an adequate absorption bandwidth of 5.2 GHz. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic PDMS/CeFe2O4/GO nanocomposite was synthesized using a facile mechanical mixing method, and the water contact angle of the nanocomposite with a ratio of 5:1 (CeFe2O4/GO/PDMS) could reach 164°. Simultaneously, the nanocomposite shows a stable EM wave absorption ability that the PDMS/CeFe2O4/GO achieved the minimum RL of −52 dB with an absorption bandwidth of 2.1 GHz. This work provides a feasible way to deal with the EM pollution in the outdoor environment, which may open up viable prospects for developing multifunctional microwave-absorbing materials.