Review of Morphology and Size-Biased Microwave Absorbing Nanomaterials

Abstract

Electromagnetic interference and microwave-absorbing materials, initially developed for defense application, have evolved further into adaptable materials with potential applications in contemporary technologies, including domestic ones. Bench-side research has made notable strides, yet these absorbing materials remain quite limited and have not yet achieved widespread acceptance. In recent years, nanoscale synthesized materials have gained attention for their unique structures, which can boost the absorption performance of these materials. This review provides an overview of the absorbing materials, discussing some key factors that influence microwave absorption. The phenomena primarily responsible for absorption are favorably surveyed in the interaction section of the review. Data on the trendiest shapes are compiled and summarized in the article. The impact of shape and size on material efficiency is discussed alongside their mechanisms, while surpassing Snoek’s limits and increasing permeability values may break saturation barriers in microwave absorbers. This consideration of various shapes also paves the way for multifunctional materials in different fields, encouraging industry engagement in this area of research. This review also underlines the role and future prospects of nanoscale materials with unique shapes (nanospheres, cubes, flowers, fibers, sheets, and tubes) in this field and also in the emerging area of biomedical, sensing, thermal insulation, self-healing, and other applications. In the end, this review embraces future directions to develop MAMs as next-generation materials with multifunctional properties.