Tunable high-performance microwave absorption for manganese dioxides by one-step Co doping modification

The frequencies of microwave absorption can be affected by the permanent electric dipole moment which could be adjusted by modifying the crystal symmetry of the microwave absorbing materials. Herein, we corroborate this strategy experimentally and computationally to the microwave absorption of manganese dioxides. Nanosized Co-doped cryptomelane (Co-Cryp) was successfully synthesized by a one-step reaction. The introduction of Co(III) induced a change of crystal symmetry from tetragonal to monlclinic, which could lead to an increase of its permanent electric dipole moment. As a result, the frequencies of maximum microwave absorption were regulated in the range of 7.4 to 13.9 GHz with a broadened bandwidths. The results suggested that microwave absorption of manganese dioxides can be tailored with Co doping to expand their potential uses for abatement of various microwave pollutions.