Electromagnetic and microwave absorbing properties of hollow carbon nanospheres

A mass of hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNSs) was fabricated by chemical vapour deposition of methane over Ni/Al2O3 catalyst at 600 °C. The products were characterized with high-resolution transmission electron microscope images, and the results showed that the external diameter of the HCNSs was 5–90 nm and the thickness of wall was about 10 nm. Microwave absorption of HCNSs/paraffin composites was mainly attributed to dielectric loss. The microwave-absorbing peaks of composites containing HCNSs shifts to low frequencies, and the bandwidth below −10 dB and minimum RL decrease with increasing thickness of HCNSs/paraffin composites.