Tuning electromagnetic absorption properties of transition metal oxides by hydrogenation with nascent hydrogen

Transition metal oxides (TMO) show great potential in various applications, but are rarely be reported as good electromagnetic absorption (EMA) materials, owing to their low electrical conductivity. In this work, we present a modified Zn/HCl system for controlled hydrogenation of a series of TMO, and investigate the relationship between EMA property and electronic structure. It is discovered that the EMA performance of TMO is improved remarkably by this proton hydrogenation strategy. It is revealed that EMA property of TMO is closely associate with its hydrogenation degree, and can be efficiently tuned by hydrogenation controlling. First-principle calculations and experimental results suggest that the variation of band structure resulting in increased delocalized electrons, narrowed bandgap and elevated electrical conductivity is thought to be the main reason for the enhanced EMA performance of hydrogenated TMO. This research expands the application scope of hydrogenated TMO and provides a new idea for the design of high-performance EMA materials.