Biomass-derived carbon-based SiC coral-like nanostructures for electromagnetic wave absorption

The rapid advancement of wireless communication and the increasing demand for electromagnetic stealth have intensified the need for high-performance electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. This work introduces an innovative bio-inspired strategy for synthesizing silicon carbide nanostructures anchored on biomass-derived carbon from fig skin via a high-temperature vapor–solid deposition method. By precisely modulating the silicon-to-carbon ratio, we developed various silicon carbide morphologies—including spherical, coral-like, and linear architectures—of which the coral-like configuration (silicon-carbide-3 (SC-3)) exhibited remarkable electromagnetic wave absorption capabilities. Specifically, SC-3 achieved a minimum reflection loss of −51.27 dB at 14.1 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.64 GHz. The enhanced absorption is attributed to the synergistic effects of interface polarization, dipole polarization, and multiple internal reflections fostered by the unique porous structure. These findings underscore the versatility of biomass-derived carbon in tailoring advanced nanostructures and pave the way for developing next-generation electromagnetic absorbers with optimized impedance matching and broadband capabilities.