Enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of chemical vapor deposited MWCNTs in X-band region

Properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesized by chemical vapor deposition technique using natural precursor camphor have been reported. Peaks observed at 2θ = 25.6° and 43.5° are assigned to the graphitic phase of carbon with (002) and (100) diffraction planes. The morphological investigation demonstrates the formation of MWCNTs at an optimum temperature of 900 °C. After 900 °C temperature, diameter distribution of MWCNTs increases drastically. TEM observations reveal that at 900 °C, the diameter of MWCNTs is minimum and they are contaminated with very few metal catalyst particles. G-band centered at 1594 cm− 1 in the Raman spectrum indicates the presence of a hexagonal graphitic structure of MWCNTs. The microwave properties have been carried out in the 8–12 GHz frequency region. MWCNTs grown at 900 °C shows the high reflection loss (RL) value of −33.56 dB (>99.9% power absorption) at 11.8 GHz however, they exhibit maximum SE value of −65.22 dB at 8 GHz and − 46.27 dB at 10.19 GHz.