Double shell structured MnFe2O4 @FeO/C derived from MnFe2O4 @ZIF-8 for electromagnetic wave absorption

• ZIF-8 was used as the carbon source, and the carbon obtained by carbonization has the porous structure of ZIF-8. • The core-shell MnFe 2 O 4 @FeO/C nanocomposites prepared from MnFe 2 O 4 @ZIF-8, and thickness of the shell could be regulated. • Heterogeneous structure improves microwave absorption performance of core-shell MnFe 2 O 4 @FeO/C nanocomposite as a absorber. • The vacuum heat treatment process is easy to implement, and the industrial production could be expected. The composites formed by the coupling of ferrite and Metal-Organic Framework derivatives have attracted wide attention based on the outstanding microwaves absorption properties. In this paper, MnFe 2 O 4 @ZIF-8 was used as the precursor and was carbonized at 700 °C under Ar atmosphere to obtain MnFe 2 O 4 @FeO/C double shell structure. The carbon-coated composite structure is beneficial to enhance the interfacial polarization on the surface of powder particles and enhance the absorbing properties of the material significantly. Among others, the carbon content is controlled by adjusting the content of coated ZIF-8. The double shell nanoparticle shows excellent reflection loss value of − 53.75 dB at 11.6 GHz with a matching thickness of 1.8 mm, and the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth is 4.74 GHz from 10.27 to 13.90 GHz and 16.89–18.0 GHz.