Preparation and electromagnetic wave absorption properties of NiSe₂@PANI composite material with cladding structure

Compounding multiple single-component materials in a reasonable and economical way is the key to prepare wave-absorbing materials. Using a straightforward hydrothermal and in-situ oxidative polymerization method, NiSe₂@PANI composites were created. PANI forms a cladding structure on NiSe₂, increasing contact area and improving interfacial loss, while the addition of PANI lowers relative density and enhances electrical conductivity. NiSe₂ mass fractions of 30%, 50%, and 70% in the composites were obtained by changing the mass ratio of NiSe₂ to polyaniline, resulting in three distinct types of composite samples. These samples were then subjected to various test procedures to evaluate their characteristics and wave absorption ability. The NP-2 sample with a 50% mass fraction was found to have good attenuation ability and impedance matching conditions. Dielectric loss with a tiny amount of magnetic loss makes up the loss mechanism. At a matching thickness of 2.5 mm, the RL_min value is −49.95 dB and the EAB value is 1.84 GHz. Additionally, the RL value also reaches −40.67 dB at a thickness of 4.5 mm. NP-2 samples exhibit a high absorption capacity at thin thicknesses and a low density, with an EAB frequency of 3.28 GHz. This indicates that NiSe₂@PANI composites can meet the requirements for wave-absorbing material manufacturing, which include thin thickness, light weight, wide bandwidth, and high wave-absorbing capacity. This study provides a meaningful reference for lightweight and high-performance wave-absorbing materials.