Multiphase structures build heterogeneous interfaces to promote interface polarization loss electromagnetic waves
image: The composite system of multiple transition metal sulfides was constructed by compounding multiple components, which formed abundant heterogeneous interfaces and polarization sites and promoted interfacial polarization and dipole polarization.
Credit: Nano Research, Tsinghua University Press
The rapid development of modern science and technology has brought convenience to human production and life, but it has also caused electromagnetic pollution. Developing efficient electromagnetic absorption materials is an effective strategy to solve this problem. Multiphase heterogeneous interface composites are ideal choices for preparing highly efficient electromagnetic wave absorbing materials.
Prof. Guanglei Wu's group at Qingdao University reported a composite material with a multiphase structure enriched with heterogeneous interfaces for EMW absorption. The heterogeneous interface was constructed through component modulation, which improved the charge carrier transport efficiency and polarization loss capability. Ultimately, the prepared multiphase VS2@C@WS2 composites obtained excellent electromagnetic absorption performance, with minimum reflection loss and maximum effective absorption bandwidth of -66.35 dB and 5.12 GHz, respectively.
The team published their review in Nano Research on September 8, 2025.
“In this study, multicomponent transition metal sulfide composites VS2@C@WS2 containing non-homogeneous structures were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, high-temperature annealing, and carbon coating processes. The differences in the material properties of VS2, C, and WS2 directly lead to differences in material properties, which contribute to the migration of charge carriers at interfaces, generating an interfacial polarization effect and an enhancement of the electromagnetic loss capability.” said Guanglei Wu.
Multiphase structural materials composed of multiple different phases have differences among the phases in terms of composition, crystal structure, etc. Due to the presence of components with different physical and chemical properties, a non-uniform interface is formed in the contact area. The charges at the heterogeneous interface are redistributed, forming a local electric field, which significantly improves the carrier migration efficiency and enhances the absorption of electromagnetic waves.
The research group investigated the optimization of polarization loss electromagnetic waves by multiphase structures and constructed non-homogeneous interfaces to broaden the application of multiphase structural composites in electromagnetic absorption. “The heterogeneous interfacial structure of the composites was precisely controlled by modulating the material components, thus improving the polarization loss capability. At the heterogeneous interfaces formed between different components, space charge regions were established, which effectively contributed to the interfacial polarization loss electromagnetic waves.” Guanglei Wu.
The multiphase structure significantly enhances the interfacial polarization loss capability of electromagnetic waves by constructing heterogeneous interfaces and exploiting the difference in dielectric/magnetic properties between different components to stimulate multiple polarization mechanisms.
One of the challenges in the study of constructing heterogeneous interfaces based on multiphase structures to promote interfacial polarization loss electromagnetic waves is to achieve efficient interfacial polarization effects. To address this issue, multiphase composites with optimized interfacial structures have been developed to form rich heterogeneous interfaces by modulating the size and distribution of different phases. In turn, the enhanced interfacial polarization strength leads to rapid dissipation of electromagnetic wave energy, achieving excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance.
The team anticipates that this work provides valuable insights into component modulation of non-uniform interfaces and broadens the application of multiphase structural composites in electromagnetic absorption. “The heterogeneous interface structures of the composites were precisely controlled by adjusting the components of the materials, thus improving the polarization loss capability. At the heterogeneous interfaces formed between different components, space charge regions were established, which effectively promoted the interfacial polarization loss.” said Guanglei Wu.
This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.52377026 and No. 52301192), Taishan Scholars and Young Experts Program of Shandong Province (No. tsqn202103057), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. ZR2024ME046 and No. ZR2024QE313) and Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (No. 2024M761554).
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.