Butterfly Wing‐Inspired Carbon Fiber with Confined Growth of Wave‐Trapping Architecture for Broadband Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Abstract

Abstract To address the challenge of compromised electromagnetic dissipation efficiency caused by excessive reliance on component compositing, this study proposes an innovative strategy based on intrinsic structural optimization. Through the fabrication of groove structures on industrial carbon fiber (CF) and employing the hydrothermal method for confined growth of layered double hydroxides (LDH), a butterfly‐wing biomimetic hybrid material is successfully prepared. By leveraging the synergy between multi‐level reflections from the grooves and the wave‐trapping function of the LDH layer, this structure optimizes impedance matching, enhances multiple reflection‐absorption, and integrates mechanisms including interface polarization and multiple scattering to form a multi‐dimensional dissipation network, thereby significantly boosting electromagnetic wave (EMW) attenuation. The material achieves an optimal combination of low filler loading (5.0 wt.%), thin thickness (2.04 mm), strong absorption (−57.77 dB), and broad bandwidth (7.02 GHz). The groove structure and hydrophilic LDH synergistically enhance fiber dispersion in epoxy resin, forming a 3D network that endows superior thermal conductivity and rapid electrothermal response characteristics to the composites, demonstrating potential for electrothermal deicing applications. Through the deep integration of bio‐inspiration and material structure design, a novel multi‐scale cooperative optimization paradigm of “morphology‐composition‐performance” has been established, providing the theoretical foundation for developing new‐generation multifunctional carbon‐based composites.

Affiliated Institutions

• Qingdao University of Science and Technology CN
• Qingdao University of Technology CN
• Harbin Institute of Technology CN

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