Enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption in YAG-modified SiC foam

•Lightweight and thermostable SiC foam is revealed.•The YAG-modified SiC foam possess excellent electromagnetic wave absorption.•The effects of structure and components on the enhanced electromagnetic wave performance are thoroughly revealed. Electromagnetic technology applications are escalating, leading to increased human exposure to electromagnetic radiation. In addressing the challenges posed by this radiation, electromagnetic wave absorbing materials stand out due to their distinguished properties. This study focused on developing porous fibrous SiC three-dimensional (3D) foams. These were synthesized by freeze-drying SiC nanofiber dispersions followed by high-temperature sintering. Measurements demonstrated that the resulting SiC foams possess a relatively low density, approximating 0.1 g cm−3. Upon microscopic analysis, it became evident that the foam's porous structure is predominantly made up of SiC fibers intermixed with yttrium aluminum garnet granules. These tailored SiC foams delivered outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption characteristics, recording a minimum reflection loss value of −63 dB. Furthermore, an expansive effective absorption bandwidth of 6.9 GHz (spanning from 9.3 to 16.2 GHz) was noted for a sample thickness of 3.15 mm. Several factors contribute to this high absorption efficacy, including multiple reflections and both interface and dipole polarizations. It is also worth noting that the SiC foam displayed commendable oxidation resistance when exposed to elevated temperatures. Cumulatively, these findings underscore the promising potential of porous fibrous SiC 3D foams in electromagnetic wave absorption applications, especially in extreme conditions.