Compact Z-pinch radiation source dedicated to broadband absorption measurements

In order to acquire a broadband absorption spectrum in a single shot,a compact radiation source was developed by using a Z-pinch type electric discharge.This paper presents the mechanical and electrical construction of the source,as well as its electrical and optical characteristics,including the intense continuum of radiation emitted by the source in the UV and visible spectral range.It also shows that the compactness of the source allows direct coupling with the probed medium,enabling broadband absorption measurement in the spectral range of 200e300 nm without use of an optical fiber which strongly attenuates the light in the short wavelength range.Concretely,thanks to this source,broadband spectral absorption of NO molecules around 210 nm and that of OH molecules around 310 nm were recorded in this direct coupling arrangement.Copper atom spectral absorption around 325 nm of the peripheral cold zones of an intense transient arc was also recorded.

Gradient carbonyl-iron/carbon-fiber reinforced composite metamaterial for ultra-broadband electromagnetic wave absorption by multi-scale integrated design

The demand of high-end electromagnetic wave absorbing materials puts forward higher requirements on comprehensive performances of small thickness,lightweight,broadband,and strong absorption.Herein,a novel multi-layer stepped metamaterial absorber with gradient electromagnetic properties is proposed.The complex permittivity and permeability of each layer are tailored via the proportion of carbonyliron and carbon-fiber dispersing into the epoxy resin.The proposed metamaterial is further optimized via adjusting the electromagnetic parameters and geometric sizes of each layer.Comparing with the four-layer composite with gradient electromagnetic properties which could only realize reflection loss(RL)of less than−6 dB in 2.0-40 GHz,the optimized stepped metamaterial with the same thickness and electromagnetic properties realizes less than−10 dB in the relevant frequency range.Additionally,the RL of less than−15 dB is achieved in the frequency range of 11.2-21.4 GHz and 28.5-40 GHz.The multiple electromagnetic wave absorption mechanism is discussed based on the experimental and simulation results,which is believed to be attributed to the synergy effect induced by multi-scale structures of the metamaterial.Therefore,combining multi-layer structures and periodic stepped structures into a novel gradient absorbing metamaterial would give new insights into designing microwave absorption devices for broadband electromagnetic protections.

Dielectric loss enhancement induced by the microstructure of CoFe_(2)O_(4) foam to realize broadband electromagnetic wave absorption

CoFe_(2)O_(4)has been widely used for electromagnetic wave absorption owing to its high Snoek limit,high anisotropy,and suitable saturation magnetization;however,its inherent shortcomings,including low dielectric loss,high density,and magnetic agglomeration,limit its application as an ideal absorbent.This study investigated a microstructure regulation strategy to mitigate the inherent disadvantages of pristine CoFe_(2)O_(4)synthesized via a sol–gel auto-combustion method.A series of CoFe_(2)O_(4)foams(S0.5,S1.0,and S1.5,corresponding to foams with citric acid(CA)-to-Fe(NO_(3))_(3)·9H_(2)O molar ratios of 0.5,1.0,and 1.5,respectively)with two-dimensional(2D)curved surfaces were obtained through the adjustment of CA-to-Fe^(3+)ratio,and the electromagnetic parameters were adjusted through morphology regulation.Owing to the appropriate impedance matching and conductance loss provided by moderate complex permittivity,the effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of S0.5 was as high as 7.3 GHz,exceeding those of most CoFe_(2)O_(4)-based absorbents.Moreover,the EAB of S1.5 reached 5.0 GHz(8.9–13.9 GHz),covering most of the X band,owing to the intense polarization provided by lattice defects and the heterogeneous interface.The three-dimensional(3D)foam structure circumvented the high density and magnetic agglomeration issues of CoFe_(2)O_(4)nanoparticles,and the good conductivity of 2D curved surfaces could effectively elevate the complex permittivity to ameliorate the dielectric loss of pure CoFe_(2)O_(4).This study provides a novel idea for the theoretical design and practical production of lightweight and broadband pure ferrites.

Self-Supporting Nanoporous Copper Film with High Porosity and Broadband Light Absorption for Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Solar steam generation(SSG)is a potential technology for freshwater production,which is expected to address the global water shortage problem.Some noble metals with good photothermal conversion performance have received wide concerns in SSG,while high cost limits their practical applications for water purification.Herein,a self-supporting nanoporous copper(NP-Cu)film was fabricated by one-step dealloying of a specially designed Al_(98)Cu_(2)precursor with a dilute solid solution structure.In-situ and ex-situ characterizations were performed to reveal the phase and microstructure evolutions during dealloying.The NP-Cu film shows a unique three-dimensional bicontinuous ligament-channel structure with high porosity(94.8%),multi scale-channels and nanoscale ligaments(24.2±4.4nm),leading to its strong broadband absorption over the 200–2500 nm wavelength More importantly,the NP-Cu film exhibits excellent SSG performance with high evaporation rate,superior efficiency and good stability.The strong desalination ability of NP-Cu also manifests its potential applications in seawater desalination.The related mechanism has been rationalized based upon the nanoporous network,localized surface plasmon resonance effect and hydrophilicity.

Ultralight pyrolytic carbon foam reinforced with amorphous carbon nanotubes for broadband electromagnetic absorption

For electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials,maximizing absorption at a specific frequency has been constantly achieved,but enhancing the absorption properties in the entire band remains a challenge.In this work,a 3D porous pyrolytic carbon(PyC)foam matrix was synthesized by a template method.Amorphous carbon nanotubes(CNTs)were then in-situ grown on the matrix surface to obtain ultralight CNTs/Py C foam.These in-situ grown amorphous CNTs were distributed uniformly and controlled by the catalytic growth time and can enhance the interface polarization and conduction loss of composites.When the electromagnetic wave enters the internal holes,the electromagnetic energy can be completely attenuated under the combined action of polarization,conductivity loss,and multiple reflections.The ultralight CNTs/Py C foam had a density of 22.0 mg·cm^(-3)and a reflection coefficient lower than-13.3 d B in the whole X-band(8.2-12.4 GHz),which is better than the conventional standard of effective absorption bandwidth(≤-10 dB).The results provide ideas for researching ultralight and strong electromagnetic wave absorbing materials in the X-band.

Graphene-Based Active Tunable Metasurfaces for Dynamic Terahertz Absorption and Polarization Conversion

Simultaneous broadband absorption and polarization conversion are crucial in many practical applications,especially in terahertz communications.Thus,actively tunable metamaterial systems can exploit the graphene-based nanomaterials derived from renewable resources because of the flexible surface conductivity and selective permeability of the nanomaterials at terahertz frequencies.In this paper,we propose a graphene-based active tunable bifunctional metasurface for dynamic terahertz absorption and polarization conversion.The graphene ring presents a certain opening angle(A)along the diagonal of the xoy plane.When A=0°,the proposed metasurface behaves as a broadband absorber.Numerical results show the feasibility of achieving this polarization-insensitive absorber with nearly 100%absorptance,and the bandwidth of its 90%absorptance is 1.22 THz under normal incidence.Alternatively,when A=40°after optimization,the proposed metasurface serves as a broadband polarization convertor,resulting in robust broadband polarization conversion ratio(PCR)curves with a bandwidth surpassing 0.5 THz in the reflection spectrum.To tune the PCR response or the broad absorption spectrum of graphene,we change the Fermi energy of graphene dynamically from 0 to 0.9 eV.Furthermore,both the broadband absorption and the linear polarization conversion spectra of the proposed metasurface exhibit insensitivity to the incident angle,allowing large incident angles within 40°under high-performance operating conditions.To demonstrate the physical process,we present the impedance matching theory and measure electric field distributions.This architecture in the THz frequency range has several applications,such as in modulators,sensors,stealth,and optoelectronic switches.THz wave polarization and beam steering also have broad application prospects in the field of intelligent systems.

Modeling for multi-resonant behavior of broadband metamaterial absorber with geometrical substrate

Despite widespread use for extending absorption bandwidth, the coexistence and coupling mechanism of multiple resonance is not well understood. We propose two models to describe the multi-resonant behavior of a broadband metamaterial absorber with geometrical-array substrate （GAS）. The multi-resonance coupling of GAS is well described by logarithmic law. The interaction between metasurface and GAS can further broaden the absorption bandwidth by generating a new resonance which coexists with original resonances in substrate. The proposed models can thoroughly describe this multiple-resonance behavior, highlighting guidelines for designing broadband absorbers.

MOFs‑Derived Strategy and Ternary Alloys Regulation in Flower‑Like Magnetic‑Carbon Microspheres with Broadband Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Broadband electromagnetic(EM)wave absorption materials play an important role in military stealth and health protection.Herein,metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)-derived magnetic-carbon CoNiM@C(M=Cu,Zn,Fe,Mn)microspheres are fabricated,which exhibit flower-like nano–microstructure with tunable EM response capacity.Based on the MOFs-derived CoNi@C microsphere,the adjacent third element is introduced into magnetic CoNi alloy to enhance EM wave absorption performance.In term of broadband absorption,the order of efficient absorption bandwidth(EAB)value is Mn>Fe=Zn>Cu in the CoNiM@C microspheres.Therefore,MOFs-derived flower-like CoNiMn@C microspheres hold outstanding broadband absorption and the EAB can reach up to 5.8 GHz(covering 12.2–18 GHz at 2.0 mm thickness).Besides,off-axis electron holography and computational simulations are applied to elucidate the inherent dielectric dissipation and magnetic loss.Rich heterointerfaces in CoNiMn@C promote the aggregation of the negative/positive charges at the contacting region,forming interfacial polarization.The graphitized carbon layer catalyzed by the magnetic CoNiMn core offered the electron mobility path,boosting the conductive loss.Equally importantly,magnetic coupling is observed in the CoNiMn@C to strengthen the magnetic responding behaviors.This study provides a new guide to build broadband EM absorption by regulating the ternary magnetic alloy.

Building the conformal protection of VB-group VS_(2)laminated heterostructure based on biomass-derived carbon for excellent broadband electromagnetic waves absorption

Although VB-Group transition metal disulfides(TMDs)VS_(2)nanomaterials with specific electronic properties and multiphase microstructures have shown fascinating potential in the field of electro-magnetic wave(EMW)absorption,the efficient utilization of VS_(2)is limited by the technical bottleneck of its narrow effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)which is attributed to environmental instability and a deficient electromagnetic(EM)loss mechanism.In order to fully exploit the maximal utilization values of VS_(2)nanomaterials for EMW absorption through mitigating the chemical instability and optimizing the EM parameters,biomass-based glucose derived carbon(GDC)like sugar-coating has been decorated on the surface of stacked VS_(2)nanosheets via a facile hydrothermal method,followed by high-temperature carbonization.As a result,the modulation of doping amount of glucose injection solution(Glucose)could effectively manipulate the encapsulation degree of GDC coating on VS_(2)nanosheets,further imple-menting the EM response mechanisms of the VS_(2)/GDC hybrids(coupling effect of conductive loss,interfacial polarization,relaxation,dipole polarization,defect engineering and multiple reflections and absorptions)through regulating the conductivity and constructing multi-interface heterostructures,as reflected by the enhanced EMW absorption performance to a great extent.The minimum reflection loss(Rmin)of VS_(2)/GDC hybrids could reach52.8 dB with a thickness of 2.7 mm at 12.2 GHz.Surprisingly,compared with pristine VS_(2),the EAB of the VS_(2)/GDC hybrids increased from 2.0 to 5.7 GHz,while their environmental stability was effectively enhanced by virtue of GDC doping.Obviously,this work provides a promising candidate to realize frequency band tunability of EMW absorbers with exceptional perfor-mance and environmental stability.

A novel lightweight metamaterial with ultra broadband electromagnetic wave absorption induced by three-dimensional CNTs conductive-coated arrays

Lightweight metamaterials for broadband electromagnetic wave absorption have become a significant requirement for electromagnetic interference and stealth technologies.In this study,a novel lightweight metamaterial absorber with three-dimensional(3D)carbon nanotubes(CNTs)conductive-coated arrays is designed and fabricated through 3D printing and dipping process,which realized less than-10 dB reflection loss in the frequency range of 7.0–40 GHz.The effect of the sheet resistance of CNTs conductive coatings and geometric parameters of meta-structure on the frequency-dependent absorption properties is investigated,and the improved absorbing efficiency is discussed based on the synergy effect of multiscale structures of 3D conductive-coated arrays.Moreover,the volume of the proposed ultra broadband absorber is reduced by approximately 60.5%compared with that of the dense plate structure,indicating a significant lightening with efficient absorbing capacities.Additionally,the absorption bandwidth and intensity of the proposed absorber have insensitive changes with the variation of incident angle.Therefore,an ultra broadband electromagnetic absorption is designed and realized,indicating a promising lightweight ultra broadband electromagnetic absorbing candidate for lightweight metamaterial absorbers.

Janus aramid nanofiber aerogel incorporating plasmonic nanoparticles for high-efficiency interfacial solar steam generation

Interfacial solar steam generation(ISSG)is a novel and potential solution to global freshwater crisis.Here,based on a facile sol-gel fabrication process,we demonstrate a highly scalable Janus aramid nanofiber aerogel(JANA)as a high-efficiency ISSG device.JANA performs near-perfect broadband optical absorption,rapid photothermal conversion and effective water transportation.Owning to these features,efficient desalination of salty water and purification of municipal sewage are successfully demonstrated using JANA.In addition,benefiting from the mechanical property and chemical stability of constituent aramid nanofibers,JANA not only possesses outstanding flexibility and fire-resistance properties,but its solar steaming efficiency is also free from the influences of elastic deformations and fire treatments.We envision JANA provides a promising platform for mass-production of high-efficiency ISSG devices with supplementary capabilities of convenient transportation and long-term storage,which could further promote the realistic applications of ISSG technology.

3D printed labyrinth multiresonant composite metastructure for broadband and strong microwave absorption

Microwave absorbers(MAs)with broadband and strong microwave absorption capacities are urgently required to meet the demands of complex electromagnetic(EM)environments.Herein,a novel labyrinth multiresonant metastructure composed of a polyether-ether-ketone/flaky carbonyl iron(PEEK/CIP)magnetic composite was proposed and fabricated via 3D printing technology.A complex multiresonant cavity design was introduced,and the resonant loss area was significantly improved.Both broadband and high-efficiency microwave absorption performances were achieved.The multilayer labyrinth multiresonant metastructure was designed with gradient impedance.The effects of structural parameters on the absorbing properties were investigated and optimized.Experiments and simulations demonstrated the effectiveness of the design strategy.The designed metastructure with a 10 mm thickness exhibited a-10 dB absorption bandwidth at a frequency of 3.78–40 GHz and an absorption bandwidth below-15 dB at 7.5–36.5 GHz.Moreover,an excellent wide-angle absorption performance was observed for different polarization states,including transverse electric(TE)and transverse magnetic(TM)modes.The combination of a complex multiresonant metastructure design and 3D printing fabrication provides a facile route to considerably extend the absorption bandwidth and strength of electromagnetic absorbers.This work is expected to provide a promising strategy for further enhancing microwave absorption performance,and the designed metastructure possesses great application potential in stealth and electromagnetic compatibility technologies.

A solvent-free process enabling ZnO/porous carbon with enhanced microwave absorption

Exploring a simple,rapid,solvent-free synthetic method for mass production of cheap,broadband mi-crowave absorbers remains the main challenge.Here,a mild solvent-free procedure is reported to syn-thesize zinc oxide nanoparticles(ZnO NPs)embedded in porous carbon derived from mixing sucrose and zinc nitrate hexahydrate.The characteristic morphology and the ZnO NPs distribution in these compos-ites were tuned using the different raw materials proportions.The mesoporous structure of porous car-bon benefits the compositional advantages between carbon foam and ZnO NPs.The optimal synthesized ZnO/C-2 carbon material demonstrates the strongest absorption of-41.7 dB with a frequency of 14.5 GHz at a thin thickness of 2 mm,and its widest effective absorption is close to 6 GHz(12.2-17.8 GHz).This work produces a feasible route for the sensible design of other effective microwave absorbers for large-scale production.

Pushing the limits of microwave absorption capability of carbon fiber in fabric design based on genetic algorithm

The field of electromagnetic wave absorption(EWA)requires the adaptability,tenability,and multifunction of high-performance materials in the future.The design and preparation of EWA materials aiming at performance requirements is the latest research hotspot.Here,a performancedriven strategy for simultaneously coordinating different target performances was proposed to optimize the structure of the periodical long continuous carbon/glass fiber fabric(PCGF)materials through algorithm and simulation.The optimized structure of the PCGF not only improves the impedance matching,but also introduces the induced orientation effect for a high cooperative loss of conductivity,resonance,and periodic structure.The flexible PCGF shows a broad effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 32.7 GHz covering a part of the C-band and the whole X-,Ku-,K-,and Ka-bands with a thickness(d)of only 0.92 mm and a density of 5.6×10^(−4) kg·cm^(−3).This highly designable fabric is promising for the EWA practical application owing to integrating the characteristics of good flexibility,acid and alkali resistance,bending resistance,excellent mechanical properties,and easy large-scale preparation.

Nanoarchitectonics of MnO_(2)nanotubes as sea urchin-like aggregates for dielectric response and microwave absorption with a wide concentration domain

Designing highly reliable and practical microwave absorbers is one of the most important research directions in the microwave absorbing field.Many absorbents suffer from concentration-sensitivity and environmental-sensitivity dilemmas in practical applications.Here,sea urchin-like aggregates of MnO_(2)nanotubes were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method,which exhibit an outstanding impedance matching characteristic.The composites based on sea urchin-like aggregates of MnO_(2)nanotubes show excellent microwave absorption performance in a wide concentration domain from 20 wt.%to 70 wt.%,corresponding to electrical conductivities from 1.86×10^(−7)to 1.85×10^(−5)S/m.Such a wide concentration range of absorbent for excellent microwave absorption is mainly attributed to the beneficial impedance matching properties of sea urchin-like aggregates of hollow nanotubes.A competitive absorption bandwidth of 3.36 GHz is achieved at 1 mm thickness,which can be broadened to 13.4 GHz by structural design.This work shows a new scheme for designing reliable and practical microwave absorbers benefit from the wide absorbent concentration domain.

From intrinsic dielectric loss to geometry patterns: Dual-principles strategy for ultrabroad band microwave absorption

As electromagnetic absorbers with wide absorption bandwidth are highly pursued in the cutting-edge electronic and telecommunication industries, the traditional dielectric or magnetic bulky absorbers remain concerns of extending the effective absorption bandwidth. In this work, a dual-principle strategy has been proposed to make a better understanding of the impact of utilizing conductive absorption fillers coupled with implementing artificial structures design on the absorption performance. In the comparison based on the microscopic studies, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based absorbers are confined to narrow operating bandwidth and relatively fixed response frequency range, which can not fulfill the ever-growing demands in the application. With subsequent macroscopic structure design based on the CNTs-based dielectric fillers, the artificial patterns show much more broadened absorption bandwidth, covering the majority of C-band, the whole X-band, and Ku-band, due to the tailored electromagnetic parameters and more reflections and scatterings. The results suggest that the combination of developing microscopic powder/bulky absorbers and macroscopic configuration design will fundamentally extend the effective operating bandwidth of microwave.

Acoustic skin meta-muffler

The effective elimination of sound energy traveling in open ducts is critical in acoustics,with considerable potential in diverse applications ranging from duct noise control to exhaust system design.However,previous absorber mechanisms are bulky or have limited ventilation or unsatisfactory absorption capability.We propose and experimentally demonstrate the concept of meta-mufflers capable of quasi-perfectly absorbing airborne sound propagating in an open duct while minimizing the influence on airflow because of its vanishing thickness.The mechanism uses coupling among asymmetric metasurfaces to achieve impedance match and subsequent high absorption in a subwavelength scale,which is explained analytically and validated experimentally.The proposed meta-muffler features an uncomplicated design,high attenuation efficiency,and a thickness of nearly two orders of magnitude of wavelength,ensuring the free pass of other entities.Furthermore,our design offers the flexibility of tuning and extending working bandwidth by hybridization of weak resonances.The performance of the proposed muffler is verified via experiments,which correlate excellently with theoretical predictions.The realization of meta-mufflers opens a route to novel acoustic absorbers and could have far-reaching implications in a plethora of important scenarios calling for both perfect sound absorption and open acoustic paths.