LAUSR

Abstract In the present work, composites of SiC and Ni in various proportions such as 4:1, 1:1 and 1:4 have been developed through the hydrothermal synthesis of Ni microspheres with and without the dispersion of 2.5 wt% graphene nanoplatelets. The effect of concentration variation in SiC and Ni microspheres with and without the dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets on the microwave absorption behavior of the Ni/SiC and Ni/SiC/Graphene composites have been explored in the frequency range 2–18 GHz. A comparative insight into the absorption mechanisms for the developed composites has been discussed for achieving enhanced microwave absorption. It has been observed that the dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets in Ni/SiC composites have achieved enhanced absorption behavior. Graphene nanoplatelets dispersed Ni/SiC composites have achieved a minimum reflection loss (RL) value of −59.15 dB at 1.9 mm absorber thickness for SiC:Ni = 1:4. The corresponding −10 dB absorption bandwidth has been observed to be 4.48 GHz. The realization of improved microwave absorption characteristics for Ni/SiC and Ni/SiC/Graphene composites may be ascribed to the synergistic influence of various attenuation mechanisms.