Synthesis of ferromagnetic sandwich [email protected]@PPy and enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption properties

Highlights: • The sandwich structure of [email protected]@PPy was synthesized via a three-step method. • The ternary composite has a ferromagnetic behavior. • The maximum reflection loss of [email protected]@PPy composite can reach −40.7 dB at 4.5 GHz with a coating layer thickness of 2.5 mm. • The absorption bandwidth exceeding −10 dB is 5.7 GHz (3.1–6 GHz and 12.8–15.6 GHz). - Abstract: In this work, a ternary sandwich structure of [email protected]@PPy was successfully fabricated by a three-step method. The structure and morphology of samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, XPS, TEM and FESEM. TEM and FESEM images indicate that FeCo particles with a size of about 20–40 nm are grown on surface of [email protected], between RGO and PPy. VSM results reveal that [email protected]@PPy composite possesses a ferromagnetic behavior, and the electromagnetic wave absorption properties of its were investigated at 2–18 GHz. The maximum reflection loss of ternary composite can reach −40.7 dB at 4.5 GHz and the absorption bandwidth with the reflection loss exceeding −10 dB is 5.7 GHz (3.1–6 GHz and 12.8–15.6 GHz) with the thickness of 2.5 mm, which shows an improved microwave absorption properties compared with FeCo. The microwave absorption mechanisms were also investigated in detail.