Hollow ZnO/ZnFe2O4 microspheres anchored graphene aerogels as a high-efficiency microwave absorber with thermal insulation and hydrophobic performances

The design of aerogels with high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption, thermal insulation and hy-drophobic properties is of great significance for application in complex and extreme environments. In order to meet the above requirements, we synthesized an aerogel-based microwave absorber with multiple components. Graphene sheets were interconnected to form a 3D framework, and the ZnO/ZnFe2O4 hollow microspheres were uniformly distributed throughout the graphene aerogel. Significantly, the microwave absorption properties of the aerogel resulted in an ultrabroad bandwidth (9.1 GHz) and strong absorption (reflection loss of-65.2 dB). In particular, its specific reflection loss values were significantly higher than those of current magnetic-dielectric absorbing materials with similar components. In addition, the aerogel exhibited strong hydrophobicity and excellent thermal insulation properties, owing to its porous structure. This study provides new insights into the design of next-generation microwave absorbing materials with multifunctional application.