Multicomponent NiFe@C nanoparticles modified accordion-like Ti3C2TX MXene for efficient and tunable microwave absorption

Electromagnetic pollution is escalating in the advent of the 5 G and forthcoming 6 G era. Ti 3 C 2 T X MXene, an emergent two-dimensional material, has been extensively applied in the field of electromagnetic absorption and shielding owing to its high electrical conductivity, adjustable interlayer spacing, and substantial surface area. However, its practical application as an absorber is severely limited by challenges including face-to-face restacking, surface modification difficulties, and poor impedance matching. Here, carbon-coated NiFe alloy nanoparticles (NiFe@C NPs), fabricated using the DC arc-discharge technique, are electrostatically self-assembled with MXene. This process effectively reduces self-stacking and enhances impedance matching properties. The robust magnetic coupling within NiFe alloy compensates for the deficiency in the magnetic loss capacity of carbon and MXene, while defects in the carbon layer and terminal groups on MXene's surface facilitate dipolar polarization. Furthermore, the heterogeneous interfaces between NiFe@C NPs and MXene produce localized dielectric polarization fields that are conducive to enhancing interfacial polarization. Additionally, the multilayered structure of MXene promotes multiple reflections and scattering of incident electromagnetic waves. When the NiFe@C/MXene composite has a thickness of 2.3 mm, it reaches a minimum reflection loss of −38.40 dB. Computer Simulation Technology (CST) results confirm the high radar cross section reduction value (17.21 dB·m 2 ), indicating the potential of multi-component NiFe/carbon/MXene composite for microwave absorption.