Complex permittivity, permeability and wide band microwave absorbing property of La substituted U-type hexaferrite

Polycrystalline samples of U-type hexaferrite series: (Ba_1−3xLa_2x)₄Co₂Fe₃₆O₆₀ with 0.10≤x≤0.20 in step of 0.05, are prepared by conventional solid state reaction route. Partial substitution of Ba²⁺ ions with La³⁺ ions enhances the electron hopping and reduces the magnetic interaction in the samples over the entire X-band frequencies; leading to wide band microwave absorption in all sample. Relative complex permittivity (ε_r=ε′−jε″) and permeability (μ_r=μ′−jμ″) of the prepared samples were measured using Vector Network Analyzer (VNA, Agilent PNA-L N5230A) for X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) frequency range. The maximum absorption of 99.8% was obtained for x=0.10 sample for thickness t_m=1.8 mm and all sample showed absorption ≥96%. The reflection loss (R_L) calculated using the measured parameter (ε_r=ε′−jε″ and μ_r=μ′−jμ″) shows good agreement when compared with the return loss measured directly using VNA for sample x=0.20. The material can be expected to find relevance in suppression of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and reduction of radar signatures.