A Review of Polymer-Based Adsorbents for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
Subject Areas :
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Keywords: Electromagnetic wave absorber, polymer composites, dielectric loss, magnetic loss, conductive polymers,
Abstract :
The primary mechanisms of electromagnetic wave absorption are dielectric loss (including dipole polarization, interfacial polarization, and conductive loss), magnetic loss (encompassing natural/exchange resonance and eddy current loss), and structural loss (such as scattering, internal reflections, and cavity effects). The efficiency of these mechanisms is governed by the material's composition, morphology, and molecular architecture.
Polymers have emerged as a highly effective platform for constructing electromagnetic wave absorbers, owing to their low density, excellent processability, chemical stability, and versatile structural engineering potential. However, the inherent insulating and non-magnetic nature of most pristine polymers requires the incorporation of conductive and magnetic fillers to induce the necessary dielectric and magnetic loss. Conventional polymers serve as exceptional substrates and binders, offering environmental resistance, strong interfacial adhesion, the capacity to form porous or foamy structures, and the ability to distribute fillers uniformly.
Conductive polymers, such as polyaniline and polypyrrole, play an active role by providing tunable conductive pathways that significantly enhance dielectric loss. A survey of recent advances demonstrates that polymer-based composites can achieve superior absorption performance, with reflection losses as deep as –70 dB and effective absorption bandwidths exceeding 10 GHz, even at minimal thicknesses. Consequently, these polymer composites are considered ideal candidates for advanced applications in telecommunications and aerospace.
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