3D flower-like hollow CuS@PANI microspheres with superb X-band electromagnetic wave absorption

Superior electromagnetic(EM) wave absorption properties in 8.2–12.4 GHz(X-band) can be obtained via the effective combination of polyaniline(PANI) and CuS. Herein, novel 3D flower-like hollow CuS@PANI microspheres were fabricated by a solvothermal process followed by in-situ polymerization. EM wave absorption properties of 3D flower-like hollow CuS@PANI microspheres in X-band were systematically studied, indicating the minimum reflection loss(RLm in) of -71.1 d B and effective absorption bandwidth(EAB) covering 81% of test frequency range were achieved with a thickness of 2.75 mm. Excellent EM wave absorption properties of 3D flower-like hollow CuS@PANI microspheres were mainly ascribed to outstanding impedance matching characteristic and dielectric loss capability(conduction loss, interfacial polarization loss and dipole polarization loss). Moreover, due to the distinctive flower-like hollow structure of Cu S@PANI microspheres, an additional wave-absorbing mechanism was provided by increasing the transmission paths of EM waves.