Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 100325.doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2026.100325

• REVIEW • Previous Articles    

Synergistic mechanism and performance optimization of dielectric-magnetic composite absorbing material

Haiyun Hou1,*(), Dongwei Ma2, Zinan Zhang1, Zirui Jia3,*()   

  1. 1 Xi'an Key Laboratory of Textile Chemical Engineering Auxiliaries, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Functional Textile Materials and Products, Ministry of Education, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710048, China
    2 School of Automotive Materials, Hubei University of Automotive Technology, Shiyan 442002, Hubei Province, China
    3 College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2026-03-24 Revised:2026-05-06 Accepted:2026-05-12 Published:2026-06-11
  • Contact: Email: houhaiyun77@126.com (Haiyun Hou)jiazirui@qdu.edu.cn (Zirui Jia)

Abstract:

With the rapid development of 5G communication, aerospace and defense technologies, the demands for electromagnetic radiation pollution, electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic stealth have driven the development of absorbing materials towards being "thin, light, wide and strong". Dielectric-magnetic composite absorbing materials have become a current research hotspot by integrating dielectric loss and magnetic loss mechanisms, breaking through the bottlenecks such as poor impedance matching and narrow frequency bands of single materials. The core advantage of this type of material stems from the synergistic mechanism: the dielectric phase attenuates electromagnetic waves through dipole polarization, interface polarization, conduction loss and defect loss, while the magnetic phase dissipates magnetic energy through natural resonance, exchange resonance, eddy current loss and domain wall resonance. The coupling of the two can optimize impedance matching, extend the electromagnetic wave propagation path, and broaden the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB). Its synergistic effect is regulated by the component ratio, microstructure and interface characteristics. Its microscopic physical processes can be revealed through Maxwell-Garnett theory, transmission line theory, etc. Performance optimization needs to be achieved through multi-dimensional strategies: screening complementary dielectric-magnetic materials in component design and regulating the proportion; Optimize the preparation process for component dispersion and structural integrity; Microstructure regulation enhances impedance matching and multiple losses; Surface modification enhances interface polarization and synergistic effects. Typical systems include magnetic metal/dielectric polymer, ferrite/ceramic, and carbon-based/magnetic nanoparticle composite systems. The minimum reflection loss (RL) of some materials is less than −60 dB, and the EAB exceeds 9 GHz. Current research still faces challenges such as the imperfection of the theoretical model of the collaborative mechanism and the difficulty in balancing wideband absorption and environmental stability. In the future, it is necessary to deepen the understanding of micro-mechanisms, develop multi-functional, integrated, intelligent and green materials, and promote their large-scale application in fields such as military stealth, electromagnetic compatibility of electronic equipment, and protection of communication base stations.

Key words: Dielectric-magnetic composite absorbing material, Collaborative mechanism, Dielectric loss, Magnetic loss