High microwave permittivity of multiwalled carbon nanotube composites

Abstract

Complex permittivity spectra of the multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-epoxy composites with mass concentrations up to 25.9% were measured from 10 MHz to 20 GHz. The composites exhibit high real and imaginary relative permittivities over broad bandwidth, showing strong dependence on the MWNT loading. It is observed that distinct resonance takes place at ∼1.5 GHz, with the corresponding resonant frequency shifts downward as the MWNT concentration increases. The origin of the dielectric properties is explained in terms of the dielectric relaxation/resonance and electrical conduction behavior of the nanotube composites, substantiated by the agreement between simulation and experimental data.