Molecular dipole engineering for tailored dielectric properties in MXene/ZnO heterostructures

The optimization of dielectric properties through controlling polarization effects in heterogeneous materials remains challenging due to structural complexity. This work demonstrates the precise regulation of interface polarization strength through molecular grafting-induced dipole reorientation. Experimental analyses confirm that the orientation of these dipoles effectively modulates the interfacial polarization: the -CF₃ group enhances, while the -NH₂ group suppresses electron transfer and polarization loss effects. The optimized MXene/ZnO modified with -CF₃ composite exhibits exceptional electromagnetic wave absorption performance, achieving a minimum reflection loss of −66.7 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.05 GHz. This work demonstrates a novel strategy for the precise tuning of electromagnetic parameters through interfacial dipole engineering, offering new insights for the design of advanced electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials.