Ordered Solid Solution γ′-Fe₄N-Based Absorber Synthesized by Nitridation Engineering and Applied for Electromagnetic Functional Devices

Abstract

As a kind of ordered solid solution, γ′-Fe₄N exhibits enormous potential in improving electromagnetic wave absorption performance profiting from stable chemical properties, high conductivity and saturation magnetization. In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon fibers embedded with Fe₄N nanospheres were prepared by electrospinning process and gas nitridation engineering to accomplish high-efficiency, broad-bandwidth and thin-thickness microwave absorption. In particular, the influence of intrinsic electronic structure, magnetic phenomena caused by time effect of dynamic magnetization, and anisotropic microscopic texture on attenuation competence and impedance matching characteristics were deeply analyzed. Satisfyingly, γ′-Fe₄N@nitrogen-doped carbon fibers (Fe₄N@NCFs) conferred a minimum reflection loss of − 77.7 dB at 2.0 mm and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 5.8 GHz at 1.8 mm. Furthermore, Fe₄N@NCFs displayed broad designability and promising application potential when participated in the design of waste energy secondary utilization device and electromagnetic stealth antennas. This study profoundly delineated the inherent mechanisms of Fe₄N-based absorber and shed light on the functional development and exploitation of materials.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Electromagnetic wave absorption / Nitridation engineering / Ordered solid solution / Energy conversion and storage device / Electromagnetic stealth antenna / Engineering / Materials Engineering

References

[1] AkdoganNG, ZirhliO, GerinM, FlochSL, RoyDL, AkdoganO. Production and characterization of compacted Fe₁₆N₂ permanent magnets. Acta Mater, 2022, 235118064

[2] LiZ, FangYJ, ZhangJT, LouXW. Necklace-like structures composed of Fe₃N@C yolk–shell particles as an advanced anode for sodium-ion batteries. Adv Mater, 2018, 30: 1800525

[3] WuYS, CaiJY, XieYF, NiuSW, ZangYP, WuSY, LiuY, LuZ, FangYY, GuanY, ZhengXS, ZhuJF, LiuXJ, WangGM, QianYT. Regulating the interfacial electronic coupling of Fe₂N via orbital steering for hydrogen evolution catalysis. Adv Mater, 2020, 32: 1904346

[4] MohnP, MatarSF. The γ-Fe₄N system revisited: an ab initio calculation study of the magnetic interactions. J Magn Magn Mater, 1999, 191: 234-240

[5] LiXY, LiuSY, MengXW, ZhangST, YuMJ, WuLF, LiangXM. Modified antistatic carbonaceous fiber with excellent hydrophobicity, environmental stability and radar absorption performance. Carbon, 2024, 229119501

[6] DingR, WangYQ, ZengFR, LiuBW, WangYZ, ZhaoHB. A One-step self-flowering method toward programmable ultrathin porous carbon-based materials for microwave absorption and hydrogen evolution. Small, 2023, 19: 2302132

[7] FengMX, FengSJ, YuTR, ZhuSY, CaiHR, HeX, LiuYM, HeM, BuXH, HuangJ, ZhouYM. Versatile and comfortable janus fabrics for switchable personal thermal management and electromagnetic interference shielding. Adv Fiber Mater, 2024, 6: 911-924

[8] WangYQ, CaoM, LiuBW, ZengFR, FuQ, ZhaoHB, WangYZ. Controllable proton-reservoir ordered gel towards reversible switching and reliable electromagnetic interference shielding. Mater Horiz, 2024, 11: 978

[9] WangYQ, ZhaoHB, ChengJ, LiuB, FuQ, WangY. Hierarchical Ti₃C₂T_x@ZnO hollow spheres with excellent microwave absorption inspired by the visual phenomenon of eyeless urchins. Nano-Micro Lett, 2022, 14: 76

[10] YanBB, BaoXM, GaoYL, ZhouM, YuYY, XuB, CuiL, WangQ, WangP. Antioxidative MXene@GA-decorated textile assisted by metal ion for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding, dual-driven heating, and infrared thermal camouflage. Adv Fiber Mater, 2023, 5: 2080-2098

[11] PengJ, ChengHN, LiuJY, HanWY, WuT, YinYJ, WangCX. Superhydrophobic MXene-based fabric with electromagnetic interference shielding and thermal management ability for flexible sensors. Adv Fiber Mater, 2023, 5: 2099-2113

[12] CharlesADM, RiderAN, BrownSA, WangCH. Multifunctional magneto-polymer matrix composites for electromagnetic interference suppression, sensors and actuators. Prog Mater Sci, 2021, 115100705

[13] ChenYM, HeWW, ZhouHL, ShenJH, LiXP, ZhengJJ, WuZY. Compressible and conductive multi-scale composite aerogel elastomers for electromagnetic wave absorption, energy harvesting, and piezoresistive sensing. Nano Energy, 2024, 119109100

[14] MengXW, QiaoJ, ZhengSN, TianHY, LiBD, LiuJR, WuLL, WangZ, WangFL. Ternary nickel/molybdenum dioxide/carbon composited nanofibers for broadband and strong electromagnetic wave absorption. Chem Eng J, 2023, 457141241

[15] MengXW, QiaoJ, LiuJR, WuLL, WangZ, WangFL. Bioinspired hollow/hollow architecture with flourishing dielectric properties for efficient electromagnetic energy reclamation device. Small, 2024, 20: 2307647

[16] SunN, ZhuB, CaiX, YuLY, YuanXM, ZhangY. Enhanced interfacial properties of carbon fiber/polyamide composites by in-situ synthesis of polyamide 6 on carbon fiber surface. Appl Surf Sci, 2022, 599153889

[17] LiGH, MaSP, LiZ, ZhangYW, DiaoJL, XiaL, ZhangZW, HuangY. High-quality ferromagnet Fe₃GeTe₂ for high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption and shielding with wideband radar cross section reduction. ACS Nano, 2022, 16: 7861

[18] XuDM, YangYF, LyuLF, OuyangAC, LiuW, WangZ, WuLL, YangF, LiuJR, WangFL. One-dimensional MnO@N-doped carbon nanotubes as robust dielectric loss electromagnetic wave absorbers. Chem Eng J, 2021, 410128295

[19] LiuYX, QieYQ, KongFQ, YangZL, YangH. Synthesis and magnetism of single-phase γ′-Fe₄N by non-ammonia route and applied in oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysis. Mater Today Commun, 2022, 30103103

[20] WangSP, LiuQC, LiSK, HuangFZ, ZhangH. Joule-heating-driven synthesis of a honeycomb-like porous carbon nanofiber/high entropy alloy composite as an ultralightweight electromagnetic wave absorber. ACS Nano, 2024, 18: 5040

[21] WuZC, ChengHW, JinC, YangBT, XuCY, PeiK, ZhangHB, YangZQ, CheRC. Dimensional design and core-shell engineering of nanomaterials for electromagnetic wave absorption. Adv Mater, 2022, 34: 2107538

[22] PengKS, LiuCY, WuYH, FangG, XuGY, ZhangYJ, WuC, YanM. Understanding the efficient microwave absorption for FeCo@ZnO flakes at elevated temperatures a combined experimental and theoretical approach. J Mater Sci Technol, 2022, 125: 212

[23] ZhangX, TianXL, QinYT, QiaoJ, PanF, WuN, WangCX, ZhaoSY, LiuW, CuiJ, QianZ, ZhaoMT, LiuJR, ZengZH. Conductive metal-organic frameworks with tunable dielectric properties for boosting electromagnetic wave absorption. ACS Nano, 2023, 17: 12510

[24] YangZY, ZhaoTT, HaoSY, WangRT, ZhuCY, TangYX, GuoC, LiuJR, WenXD, WangFL. Large-scale synthesis of multifunctional single-phase Co₂C nanomaterials. Adv Sci, 2023, 10: 2301073

[25] ShanB, WangY, JiXY, HuangY. Enhancing low-frequency microwave absorption through structural polarization modulation of MXenes. Nano-Micro Lett, 2024, 16: 212

[26] RehmanSU, XuS, LiZH, TaoTX, ZhangJ, XiaHN, XuHT, MaK, WangJF. Hierarchical-bioinspired MOFs enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption. Small, 2024, 20: 2306466

[27] LiuXY, MaWL, QiuZR, YangTY, WangJB, JiXY, HuangY. Manipulation of impedance matching toward 3D-printed lightweight and stiff MXene-based aerogels for consecutive multiband tunable electromagnetic wave absorption. ACS Nano, 2023, 17: 8420

[28] QiaoJ, ZhangX, XuDM, KongLX, LvLF, YangF, WangFL, LiuW, LiuJR. Design and synthesis of TiO₂/Co/carbon nanofibers with tunable and efficient electromagnetic absorption. Chem Eng J, 2020, 380122591

[29] ZhangX, TianXL, QiaoJ, FangXR, LiuKY, LiuC, LinJP, LiLT, LiuW, LiuJR, ZengZH. In-Situ fabrication of sustainable-N-doped-carbon-nanotube-encapsulated CoNi heterogenous nanocomposites for high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption. Small, 2023, 19: 2302686

[30] QiuZR, LiuXY, YangTY, WangJB, WangY, MaWL, HuangY. Synergistic enhancement of electromagnetic wave absorption and corrosion resistance properties of high entropy alloy through lattice distortion engineering. Adv Funct Mater, 2024, 34: 2400220

[31] ZhangSZ, RaoSL, LiYF, WangS, SunDY, LiuF, ChengGJ. Laser-forged transformation and encapsulation of nanoalloys: pioneering robust wideband electromagnetic wave absorption and shielding from GHz to THz. Int J Extreme Manuf, 2024, 6055501

[32] WangXH, QinJ, CuiJ, HuangL, YuanY, LiYB. Reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanofiber based composite fabrics with spider web-like structure for microwave absorbing applications. Adv Fiber Mater, 2022, 4: 1164-1176

[33] QiaoJ, SongQH, ZhangX, ZhaoSY, LiuJR, NyströmG, ZengZH. Enhancing interface connectivity for multifunctional magnetic carbon aerogels: an in situ growth strategy of metal-organic frameworks on cellulose nanofibrils. Adv Sci, 2024, 11: 2400403

[34] ZengXJ, JiangX, NingY, GaoYF, CheRC. Constructing built-in electric fields with semiconductor junctions and Schottky junctions based on Mo-MXene/Mo-metal sulfides for electromagnetic response. Nano-Micro Lett, 2024, 16: 213

[35] LiuXY, MaWL, YangTY, QiuZR, WangJB, LiYH, WangY, HuangY. Multilevel heterogeneous interfaces enhanced polarization loss of 3D-printed graphene/NiCoO₂/selenides aerogels for boosting electromagnetic energy dissipation. ACS Nano, 2024, 18: 10184

[36] MengXW, QiaoJ, YangYF, ZhangX, YangZY, ZhengSN, LiuJR, WuLL, WangZ, WangFL. Three-dimensional porous manganese oxide/nickel/carbon microspheres as high-performance electromagnetic wave absorbers with superb photothermal property. J Colloid Interface Sci, 2022, 629: 884-894

[37] ShuJC, CaoMS, ZhangM, WangXX, CaoWQ, FangXY, CaoMQ. Molecular patching engineering to drive energy conversion as efficient and environment-friendly cell toward wireless power transmission. Adv Funct Mater, 2020, 30: 1908299

[38] WangQQ, NiuB, HanYH, ZhengQ, LiL, CaoMS. Nature-inspired 3D hierarchical structured “vine” for efficient microwave attenuation and electromagnetic energy conversion device. Chem Eng J, 2023, 452139042

[39] YaoLH, WangYC, ZhaoJG, ZhuYQ, CaoMS. Multifunctional nanocrystalline-assembled porous hierarchical material and device for integrating microwave absorption, electromagnetic interference shielding, and energy storage. Small, 2023, 19: 2208101

[40] ShuJC, ZhangYL, QinY, CaoMS. Oxidative molecular layer deposition tailoring eco-mimetic nanoarchitecture to manipulate electromagnetic attenuation and self-powered energy conversion. Nano-Micro Lett, 2023, 15: 142

[41] MengXW, YuMJ, WangCG. The design of ternary nanofibers with core–shell structure for electromagnetic stealthy antenna. Adv Fiber Mater, 2024.

[42] HoriuchiN. Integrated optical antenna. Nat Photonics, 2020, 14: 134

Funding

key research and development program of Shandong Province(2021ZLGX01)

Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2022ME055)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China