Preparation and Microwave Absorbing Properties of Cu-Doped Ni-Zn Spinel Ferrites

Ni-Zn spinel ferrite and Cu-doped spinel ferrite were prepared by a conventional ceramic processing method. Microwave absorption, complex permittivity and permeability of the (Ni0.5Zn0.5)Fe2O4 and (Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4)Fe2O4 spinel ferrites within the frequency range of 0.5-18 GHz were investigated. The reflection loss calculation results show that the Ni-Zn spinel ferrite and Cu-doped Ni-Zn spinel ferrite are good electromagnetic wave absorbers in the microwave range. The single layer (Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4)Fe2O4 spinel ferrite absorber with a thickness of 9.2 mm achieved a reflection loss below -10 dB (90% absorption) at 0.5-2.3 GHz, and the minimum value is -35.63 dB at 1.1 GHz. When the first layer and second layer are (Ni0.5Zn0.5)Fe2O4 and (Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4)Fe2O4 spinel ferrites respectively, the laminated absorbers with double spinel ferrite layers with a thickness of 3 mm achieved a reflection loss below -10 dB at 9.9-12.3 GHz, and the minimum value is -35.3 dB at 11.7 GHz.