Tunable Microwave Absorption Properties of Core-shell Structured Ni-TiN@CN Nanocomposites

doi:10.11901/1005.3093.2025.174

Chinese Journal of Materials Research

2026, Vol. 40

Issue (5): 372-384 DOI: 10.11901/1005.3093.2025.174

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Tunable Microwave Absorption Properties of Core-shell Structured Ni-TiN@CN Nanocomposites

LI Qian¹^,², SHI Guimei²(

)

^1.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang 110870, China
^2.School of Science, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang 110870, China

Cite this article:

LI Qian, SHI Guimei. Tunable Microwave Absorption Properties of Core-shell Structured Ni-TiN@CN Nanocomposites. Chinese Journal of Materials Research, 2026, 40(5): 372-384.

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Abstract

The Ni-TiN@CN nanocomposites with multi-heterostructures were successfully synthesized via an integrated procedure involving DC arc-discharge plasma processing, dopamine (DA) self-polymerization, and controlled heat treatment. The influence of varying amounts of magnetic Ni addition on the electromagnetic wave absorption performance was systematically investigated. The phase composition, microstructure and electromagnetic wave absorption properties of the nanocomposites were comprehensively characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and vector network analyzer, respectively. The results showed that the prepared Ni-TiN@CN with a Ni: Ti mass ratio of 3:7 exhibited exceptional microwave absorbing capability, achieving optimal reflection loss of -48.97 dB at 6.78 GHz, along with a broad effective absorption bandwidth (≤ -20 dB) spanning 5 GHz. The incorporation of magnetic Ni particles introduced magnetic loss mechanisms, while the multiple intrinsic defects within the heterogeneous structure synergistically generated defect dipole polarization and conductive loss. Notably, the strategic addition of Ni facilitates the construction of heterogeneous interfaces, achieving enhanced interface polarization effect. This work demonstrated successful dual regulation of dielectric and magnetic loss mechanisms in the nanocomposites through structural engineering strategies, achieving exceptional synergy between electromagnetic attenuation enhancement and impedance matching optimization, significantly improved the overall microwave absorption performance of the nanocomposites.

Key words: composites core-shell structure magnetic element Ni-TiN@CN microwave absorption properties

Received: 16 May 2025

ZTFLH:

TB332

Fund: Liaoning Provincial Education Department(LJ212411035012)

Corresponding Authors: SHI Guimei, Tel: (024)25496502, E-mail: gmshi@sut.edu.cn

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https://www.cjmr.org/EN/10.11901/1005.3093.2025.174 OR https://www.cjmr.org/EN/Y2026/V40/I5/372

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the Ni-TiN@CN nanocomposites

Fig. 2 XRD patterns (a) and Raman spectra (b) of TCN, NTCN-1, NTCN-2, NTCN-3 and NTCN-4 nanocomposites

Fig.3 XPS spectra of TCN (a-d) and NTCN-3 (e-i) nanocomposites (a, e) survey, (b, f) Ti 2p, (c, g) N 1s, (d, h) C 1s, (i) Ni 2p

Fig.4 SEM images of nanocomposites (a) TCN, (b) NTCN-1, (c) NTCN-2, (d) NTCN-3, (e) NTCN-4

Fig.5 TEM images and HRTEM images of the samples (a) TCN, (b) NTCN-3, (c) TiN, (d) Ni-TiN

Fig.6 Complex permittivity versus frequency for nanocomposites (a) real part of relative complex permittivity, (b) imaginary part of the relative complex permittivity

Fig.7 Complex permeability versus frequency for nanocomposites (a) real part of relative complex permeability, (b) imaginary part of the relative complex permeability

Fig.8 Reflection loss curves for the nanocomposites

Fig.9 Cole-Cole semicircles plots for the nanocomposites (a) TCN, (b) NTCN-1, (c) NTCN-2, (d) NTCN-3, (e) NTCN-4

Fig.10 C₀ curves (a) and the attenuation constant (b) for the nanocomposites

Fig.11 Impedance matching of the nanocomposites (a) TCN, (b) NTCN-1, (c) NTCN-2, (d) NTCN-3, (e) NTCN-4

Fig.12 The frequency versus λ/4 curves for the minimum reflection loss of NTCN-3

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