The “two birds with one stone” strategy enhances the high corrosion resistance and electromagnetic wave absorption of NiSe2/NC/MXene composites

To address the challenges of impedance mismatch and corrosion in electromagnetic wave absorption materials, this work synthesized NiSe₂/NC/Ti₃C₂T_x MXene composites by integrating the advantages of modified Ti₃C₂T_x MXene and MOF-derived materials. The precursors for the Ni-MOF and MXene were prepared using a combination of multiple etching and microwave methods, followed by in-situ selenization pyrolysis under an argon atmosphere. By tuning the MXene content, the morphology, specific surface area, porous structure, and electromagnetic properties of the composites were precisely controlled. Under optimal conditions (pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C), the composite achieved a minimum reflection loss of −58.46 dB at 5.68 GHz with a thickness of 1.5 mm, within the 2–18 GHz frequency range. This outstanding performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of conduction loss, dipole and interface polarization, magnetic resonance, multiple electromagnetic reflections and scattering, and well-balanced impedance matching. Additionally, the composite exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, making it highly suitable for complex and challenging service environments. This work presents a novel strategy for developing materials with dual functions of superior electromagnetic wave absorption and corrosion resistance.