Recent advances in carbon-based microwave-absorbing aerogel

Carbon-based microwave-absorbing (MA) aerogel materials have emerged as a prominent research focus in recent years due to their three-dimensional (3D) interconnected conductive networks and diverse porous microstructures, which optimize impedance matching and dissipate microwaves through multiple loss effects. Guided by the research rationale of constructing carbon-based aerogels with diverse microstructures and corresponding unique electromagnetic response behaviors, this review systematically summarizes recent advances in carbon-based microwave-absorbing aerogels over the past five years, with particular emphasis on the rational design of carbon-based aerogels using different templating strategies. These include hard-template methods based on natural biomass and polymer foams, soft-template approaches such as isotropic and directional freeze-drying, and non-template techniques such as electrospinning and 3D printing. By discussing the mechanisms and advantages of these synthesis strategies in depth, the relationship between porous architecture and microwave response properties is elucidated, while also providing insights and perspectives on future carbon-based microwave-absorbing aerogels with synergistic performance and potential for large-scale production.