Synthesis and electromagnetic wave absorption performance of Ti3C2Tx/TiO2/CdS hybrids

MXene has emerged as a promising candidate for electromagnetic wave absorbing (EMA) materials. However, its performance in the high-frequency range remains suboptimal. To enhance its overall EMA capabilities across a broader frequency spectrum, this study systematically tuned the molar ratio of Ti₃C₂T_x/TiO₂/CdS composites synthesized by a hydrothermal method. We optimized the interfacial charge transfer and accumulation to utilize the synergistic effect of dielectric loss and conduction loss to improve EMA performance. Experimental results exhibited that Ti₃C₂T_x/TiO₂/CdS-1 (CdS:Ti₃C₂T_x = 0.2:1) composite had excellent performance: a minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of -52.02 dB at 14.16 GHz, a matching thickness of only 1.45 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 4.24 GHz. By adjusting the CdS content, the study optimized interfacial charge transfer and reduced excessive conductivity of pure MXene, which typically caused strong electromagnetic reflection. CdS acted as a "conductivity buffer", and electron transferred from Ti₃C₂T_x to CdS, decreasing interface transfer resistance and improving conduction loss. Therefore, MXene provided a high-conductivity 2D framework, TiO₂ introduced local defects and polarizable groups, and CdS modulated conductivity and enhanced interfacial charge transfer, achieving a balanced loss mechanism. This paper provides a reference method for improving EMA performance of MXene-based composites.