Preparation and microwave absorbing properties of nickel-coated carbon fiber with polyaniline via in situ polymerization

Electric conductive and microwave absorbing material PANI/Ni/CF was prepared by in situ polymerization of polyaniline on the surface of nickel-coated carbon fiber (Ni/CF). The morphologies and structures of CF, Ni/CF, PANI and PANI/Ni/CF were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Results show that the CF was wrapped tightly around the nickel layer, and the Ni/CF was coated by PANI. Measurement of four probes resistance tester indicates that the electrical conductivity of PANI/Ni/CF was great improved compared with PANI and PANI/CF. Vibrating sample magnetometry shows that the magnetic saturation intensity of Ni/CF and PANI/Ni/CF was 13.8 and 2.3 emu/g, respectively. According to the vector network analyzer, the microwave absorbing properties of PANI/Ni/CF were better than those of PANI and PANI/CF, and its minimum loss value is ?12.4 dB at 8.8 GHz.