Indonesian Journal of Chemical Studies (Indones. J. Chem. Stud.)
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): Indones. J. Chem. Stud. June 2026

Magnetite Functionalized on Graphene Nanoplatelets Surface as Radar Absorbing Matrix in X-Band Region

Krisman Hans Tunggul Purba (Department of Physics, The Republic of Indonesia Defense University, Bogor 16810, Indonesia)
Andri Hardiansyah (Research Center for Nanotechnology Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten 15314, Indonesia)
M. Zuhnir Piliang (Department of Physics, The Republic of Indonesia Defense University, Bogor 16810, Indonesia)
Anisa Salsabila (Department of Physics, The Republic of Indonesia Defense University, Bogor 16810, Indonesia)
Bintang Dwi Nur Rohmad (Department of Chemistry, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, Indonesia)
Riri Murniati (Department of Physics, The Republic of Indonesia Defense University, Bogor 16810, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 May 2026

Abstract

The development of radar absorbing materials (RAM) is a crucial factor in advancing stealth technology, particularly in aerospace and defense sectors. In this study, a nanocomposite consisting of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and Ferrous-Ferric Oxide (Fe3O4 ) was successfully synthesized through a mechanical homogenization process using Planetary Ball Milling (PBM). This method was selected to ensure uniform dispersion of the magnetic Fe3O4 particles within the conductive GNP matrix, aiming to combine their respective magnetic and dielectric loss mechanisms for enhanced microwave absorption. Surface morphology observations revealed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles were homogeneously embedded on the wrinkled surface of the GNP layers, forming a well-integrated nanostructure. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the Fe3O4 maintained its characteristic spinel cubic structure following synthesis. The composite exhibited a noticeable reduction in crystallite size and overall crystallinity, which is attributed to the mechanical impact during milling and the disordered nature of GNP. These structural modifications facilitate enhanced multiple scattering and interfacial polarization, which contribute to microwave attenuation. The electromagnetic absorbing performance showed that the GNP/Fe3O4 nanocomposite achieved a maximum reflection loss (RL) of –13.9 dB at 11.46 GHz with optimal absorber thicknesses of 3 mm and 5 mm. Additionally, the composite exhibited a high absorption efficiency of 99.48% (based on through power calculation), indicating excellent performance in the X-band frequency range. Overall, the results suggest that this GNP/Fe3O4 nanocomposite offers promising potential as a lightweight, cost-effective, and efficient RAM for stealth technology.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijcs

Publisher

Subject

Chemistry

Description

Indonesian Journal of Chemical Studies (IJCS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes original research articles, review articles, as well as short communication in all areas of basic and applied chemistry. IJCS was managed & published by the Indonesian Scholar Society. This journal ...