Fabrication of PPy nanosphere/rGO composites via a facile self-assembly strategy for durable microwave absorption

Abstract

Traditional magnetic metal and alloy materials suffer from easy oxidation and high density, which hinders their practical application as high-performance microwave absorbers. Lightweight and durability have become new goals in the fabrication of the next generation of microwave absorbers. Herein, we report the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) nanosphere/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites through chemical reduction of self-assembly PPy nanosphere/GO hybrids. PPy nanospheres and GO are integrated effectively by π-π interaction of dual conjugated systems. When the mass ratio of PPy nanospheres to rGO is 0.6:1, the resultant composite, PPy/rGO-0.6, presents comparable/superior reflection loss characteristics to those magnetic metals and their related graphene-based composites in previous studies. Electromagnetic analysis reveals that well-matched characteristic impedance, multiple polarization loss, and good conductivity loss are, together, responsible for the excellent microwave absorption performance of PPy/rGO-0.6. More importantly, PPy/rGO-0.6 also exhibits good microwave absorption after being treated at 423 K for a long time. This work provides a new idea for designing and preparing a high-performance microwave absorber with lightweight and durable features.