Yolk-shell structured Co-C/Void/Co9S8 composites with a tunable cavity for ultrabroadband and efficient low-frequency microwave absorption

A yolk-shell structured Co-C/Void/Co9S8 ternary composite composed of a Co nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon core and Co9S8 shell was synthesized by the sulfidation of a Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework and subsequent pyrolysis. The composition and interior cavity of the Co-C/Void/Co9S8 composite could be precisely modulated by controlling the sulfidation reaction. Due to the abundant heterointerfaces, well-controlled cavity, and magnetic-dielectric synergistic effects, the Co-C/Void/Co9S8 exhibited excellent and tunable microwave-absorbing properties. The optimized Co-C/Void/Co9S8, having a loading of 25 wt.% and thickness only 2.2 mm, displayed an ultrabroad absorption bandwidth of 8.2 GHz at high frequencies. Moreover, the composite could achieve an extremely high reflection loss of -54.02 dB at low frequencies by adjusting its loading to 30 wt.%. This study provides a new insight into promising lightweight microwave-absorbing materials with ultrabroad absorption bandwidths and strong low-frequency absorption.