Facile synthesis of La-doped cobalt ferrite@glucose-based carbon composite as effective multiband microwave absorber

C/CoLa_xFe_2?xO₄ (with x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) composites were compounded by using a high-temperature hydrolysis. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) results show that doping of La ions does not alter the spinel crystal structure and partially replaces Fe ions. Results of Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping prove that with the doping of La ions, the grains are refined, and the carbon shell on the surface exists. The effect of doping of La ions on microwave absorption performance of the composites was systematically studied. It is found that an optimal reflection loss (RL) of ?49.56 dB is achieved at 4.96 GHz, as the composition is C/CoLa_0.2Fe_1.8O₄. Meanwhile, the sample C/CoLa_0.3Fe_1.7O₄ shows excellent effective absorption bandwidth. Specifically, when the matching thicknesses are 4 and 5 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth is 4 GHz, covering the C band and Ku band, thus realizing multiband absorption. The synergistic effects of the enhanced dipole polarization related to the doping of La ions, improved interface polarization of the core-shell structure, and the magnetic loss originated from CoLa_xFe_2?xO₄ are responsible for the optimal microwave absorption performance. Therefore, this C/CoLa_xFe_2?xO₄ composite material has the prospect of a multiband high-efficiency microwave absorber.