Enhancement of EMI shielding effectiveness of flexible Co2U-type hexaferrite (Ba4Co2Fe36O60)-poly(vinylidene fluoride) heterostructure composite materials: An improved radar absorbing material to combat against electromagnetic pollution

In this report, for the first time, Co2U-type hexaferrite (Ba4Co2Fe36O60) nanomaterials have been considered along with their conjugation with a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix for the fabrication of heterostructure composite materials with superior electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (SE) that can produce better attenuation of microwave radiation. The high value of magnetizations of ∼7.21 and 10.63 emu/g is significant for the improvement of the shielding effectiveness due to absorption (SEA) of the composite materials. The unique combination of magnetic and dielectric responses of these Co2U-type hexaferrite nanomaterials helps to get significantly high total shielding effectiveness (SET) in their PVDF composite states within the frequency range of 8–18 GHz. A very high value of SET of approximately −83 dB at 14.2 GHz with >99.999 999% of attenuation of incident radiation has been observed for the Co2U-type hexaferrite–PVDF composite materials. The β-phase modified PVDF structure also plays the most important role to generate induced polarization inside the structure of composite materials. Also, this PVDF matrix provides the application friendly laminated structure of Co2U-type hexaferrite–PVDF composite materials. Structural, morphological, and chemical studies reveal the presence of the polycrystalline phase of Co2U-type hexaferrite and β-phase crystallization of polar PVDF in the multi-phase Co2U-type hexaferrite–PVDF composite materials. This study has helped us to understand the importance of magnetic Co2U-type hexaferrite nanomaterials for the fabrication of lightweight, large area, flexible, and thickness-controlled radar absorbing materials to combat against electromagnetic pollution.