Ceramic-based microwave absorption (MWA) materials have demonstrated significant application potential in cutting-edge fields, including aerospace and advanced weaponry, owing to their superior mechanical strength, excellent chemical and thermal stability, remarkable oxidation and corrosion resistance, outstanding electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance, low density, and high-temperature durability. To further improve the performance of these materials, structural optimization has emerged as a widely adopted strategy. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in ceramic-based MWA materials across multiple scales, from the nanoscale and microscale to the macroscale, and establishes interconnections among synthesis techniques, structural design, and electromagnetic (EM) behavior. The effects of structural engineering, defect modulation, and hierarchical porosity on the dielectric and magnetic loss mechanisms are discussed, along with how morphology influences impedance matching and attenuation efficiency. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of developing lightweight, broadband, and high-temperature-resistant ceramic absorbers are outlined, providing insights for the intelligent design of next-generation EMW absorption systems.

Despite significant advancements in microwave absorption materials (MAMs) for electromagnetic interference mitigation, the integration of robust microwave absorption (MA) and corrosion resistance into a unified system remains a critical challenge, particularly for long-term durability in harsh environments. Conventional approaches relying on multiphase composites often suffer from compromised functionality due to intrinsic property conflicts between absorption and anti-corrosion components. Here, we propose an integrated design strategy of active-passive corrosion inhibition and MA to design composite volatile corrosion inhibition coatings with synergistic dielectric attenuation and multiple corrosion protection effects. Dielectric property modulation strategy-based, we achieved precise modulation of permittivity gradients and interfacial polarization for RGO/FCIP@SiO₂, resulting in optimal impedance matching and record-breaking MA performance: a minimal reflection loss (RL_min) of −68 dB at 12.82 GHz with a 7 GHz effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) at 2.0 mm thickness. Moreover, the two-dimensional lamellar reduced graphene oxide (RGO) has a “maze effect” and superhydrophobic architecture (162.3° contact angle) to passively defend against corrosive media. Concurrently, the multicomponent volatile corrosion inhibitor (BGC) system endows the composite with exceptional active corrosion inhibition. Through the dynamic anti-corrosion process involving vapor-phase release, surface adsorption, and protective film formation of corrosion inhibitor molecules, this system significantly enhances corrosion protection. Remarkably, it maintains 99.36% corrosion inhibition efficiency after 360-hour salt spray exposure and 25 friction cycles, without MA performance degradation.

Wearable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding fabrics with excellent electromagnetic shielding performance, oxidation resistance, and structural stability are highly demanded for the rapid development of electronic devices and wireless communication. MXenes are metallic conductive materials with exceptional EMI shielding properties, but they are prone to oxidation in air and have poor structural stability and durability on fabric substrates. Herein, we present a one-step assembly method to fabricate fabrics coated with MXenes and polymeric sodium alginate (SA) composite (MXene-SA). SA protects MXenes from oxidation and forms a stable interlayer structure by bonding to MXenes. The MXene-SA coated fabrics are breathable and flexible, and have a low sheet resistance of 2.12 ± 0.08 Ω/sq and a high EMI shielding performance of 37.05 dB at X-band, which is comparable to the best 42.31 dB. Moreover, the MXene-SA coated fabrics exhibit high structural stability and oxidation resistance under various conditions of sonication disintegration, mechanical abuse, chemical corrosion, and humidity, compared to pure MXenes coated fabrics. We believe that the wearable and high-performance MXene-SA fabrics have great potential for the next generation of ultra-portable and wearable EMI shielding products.

In order to meet the requirements of the marine environment for microwave absorption (MA) materials, we put forward the strategy of constructing multi-functional composite materials, which integrate microwave absorption, anti-corrosion, and antibacterial properties. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) was used as a template to induce the growth of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), simultaneously as a two-dimensional (2D) nanocontainers to load corrosion inhibitors to achieve pH-responsive and self-healing properties. Finally, quaternary ammonium salt (dimethyl octadecyl(3-trimethoxylsilyl propyl) ammonium chloride (DMAOP)) and sodium ascorbate (VCNa) were introduced to achieve synergistic antibacterial activity and the reduction of GO. The 2D strip-like structure of ZIF-8 was due to the confined growth induced by the electrostatic attraction between ZIF-8 and GO sheets. The as-obtained reduced GO (RGO)/ZIF-8/DMAOP₅ exhibited excellent microwave absorption (MA) properties, with a minimum reflection loss (RL) value of −47.08 dB at 12.73 GHz when the thickness was 2.8 mm. Moreover, the effective absorption bandwidth reached 6.84 GHz. After soaking in 3.5% NaCl solution for 35 days, the RGO/ZIF-8/DMAOP₅-0.7% coating still achieved an impedance value of 4.585 × 10⁷ Ω·cm² and a protective efficiency of 99.994%, providing superior anti-corrosion properties. In addition, fantastic antibacterial activity was obtained, with the antibacterial rates of RGO/ZIF-8/DMAOP₁₀ reaching 99.39% and 100% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This work could open new avenues towards the development of a new generation of multifunctional MA materials.

Although graphene aerogels (GA) have been attracted great attention, the easy-operation and large-scale production of GA are still challenges. Further, most GA have a monolith-like appearance, limiting their application-specific needs. Herein, we highlight graphene aerogel spheres with controllable hollow structures (HGAS) that are delicately designed and manufactured via coaxial electrospinning coupled with freeze-drying and calcination. The HGAS exhibit a spherical configuration at the macroscale, while the construction elements of graphene on the microscale showing an interconnected radial microchannel structure. Further, ball-in-ball graphene aerogel spheres (BGAS) are obtained by reference to the triaxial electrospinning technology. The as-prepared spheres possess the controllable integrated conductive networks, leading to the effective dielectric loss and impedance matching, thus bringing on high-performance microwave absorption. The as-obtained HGAS shows a minimum reflection loss of -52.7 dB, and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (f_E) of 7.0 GHz with thickness of 2.3 mm. Further, the f_E reaches 9.3 GHz for BGAS with thickness of 3.4 mm. Aforementioned superior microwave absorption of HGAS and BGAS confirms combination of multiaxial electrospinning and freeze-drying on the multiscale is an effective strategy for scalable fabrication of advanced microwave absorbing functional graphene aerogel spheres.

Recently, biomass-derived three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon materials have been gaining more interest as promising microwave absorbers due to their low cost, vast availability, and sustainability. Here, a novel 3D interconnected porous magnetic carbon foams are in-situ synthesized via a combination of sol-gel and carbonization process with wheat straw as the carbon source and FeCl₃·6H₂O as the magnetic regulating agent. During the process of foams formation, the lignocelluloses from the steam-exploded wheat straw are converted into interconnected carbon sheet networks with hierarchical porous structures, and the precursor FeCl₃·6H₂O is converted into magnetic nanoparticles uniformly embedded in the porous carbon foams. The generated magnetic nanoparticles are benefit to enhance the interface polarization and magnetic loss ability to improve the efficient complementarities between the dielectric and magnetic loss, thus increasing the impedance matching. The obtained sample treated at 600 ℃ displays the best microwave absorption (MA) performance. It presents a minimal reflection loss (RL) of −43.6 dB at 7.1 GHz and the effective bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) is 3.3 GHz with the thickness of 4.7 mm. The 3D porous structure, multi-interfaces and the synergy of dielectric loss and magnetic loss make great contribution to the outstanding MA performance.