Experimental coconut-derived C/CoNi aerogel shows measured electromagnetic absorption and shielding performance

A laboratory study reported that a composite aerogel made from coconut-derived carbon nanofibers and cobalt-nickel alloy nanoparticles achieved a minimum reflection loss of −39.41 dB at 1.5 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.58 GHz at 2.0 mm. The article abstract also reports electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of 24.5 dB and radar-cross-section reduction across a wide range of incident angles.

The researchers prepared the material by freeze-drying and high-temperature carbonizing natural coconut to form a carbon nanofiber aerogel. They then grew CoNi alloy nanoparticles directly on the fiber surfaces through a hydrothermal process, producing what they designated C/CoNi-NA. According to the abstract, microscopy and related characterization showed that the nanoparticles were uniformly anchored to the fibers and that the aerogel’s three-dimensional porous structure remained intact. The authors associated this structure with the material’s compressive resilience and fatigue resistance, although the abstract does not provide quantitative mechanical-test results.

Electromagnetic characterization indicated that adding CoNi increased dielectric polarization and magnetic loss. The authors described the resulting combination as synergistic dielectric and magnetic losses. In the shielding analysis, total shielding effectiveness reached 24.5 dB, while absorption shielding effectiveness was substantially greater than reflection shielding effectiveness. The abstract therefore characterizes the measured shielding behavior as predominantly absorption-based. It also reports outstanding radar-cross-section reduction over a wide range of incident angles but does not state the tested angular range or numerical reduction values in the available text.

The findings support the authors’ conclusion that coconut-derived C/CoNi-NA is a promising lightweight, elastic material for broadband electromagnetic-wave absorption and electromagnetic-interference shielding. That conclusion remains bounded by the accessible evidence: this report is based on the journal article’s abstract rather than an assessment of the complete study. The preview does not disclose detailed testing conditions, uncertainty estimates, specimen counts, comparative material results, durability-cycle measurements or application-scale performance, so those aspects cannot be evaluated from the supplied abstract.

Subject of Research: Experimental evaluation of a coconut-derived C/CoNi nanofiber aerogel for electromagnetic absorption and shielding

Article Title: Biomass-derived elastic C/CoNi nanofiber aerogel with electromagnetic wave absorption and shielding properties

Article References: Zhou, G., Dong, H., Deng, H., Ma, C., Zhang, B., & Wang, Y. (2026). Biomass-derived elastic C/CoNi nanofiber aerogel with electromagnetic wave absorption and shielding properties. Journal of Materials Science, 61(42), 33084-33096. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-026-13761-1

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s10853-026-13761-1

Keywords: C/CoNi aerogel, coconut carbon, nanofibers, electromagnetic absorption, electromagnetic shielding, reflection loss, radar cross section, CoNi nanoparticles, porous materials, Biomass-derived, elastic, CoNi