Electromagnetic Wave Absorbing Performance of Activated Carbon Based Agricultural Waste -A Review

In this new era of technology, many new devices involving electronic devices especially in the tele-communication are being developed in order to fulfil human needs and provide their daily facilities. These devices are being designed to function at higher frequency (gigahertz) range. The high frequency electromagnetic wave device is drawing more attention in manufacturing and upgradingthe development of the economy, military and medical industry. However, these daily technological devices produce electromagnetic interference that can adversely affect our health. The rapid increase in electromagnetic interference also received serious attention from researchers in producing more electromagnetic absorbing materials especially suited at high gigahertz frequencies. Hence, using activated carbon from agricultural waste can be the best solution to this problem due to its high carbon content and cheap availability. Agricultural wastes are inexpensive and renewable additional sources for activated carbon, thus being a bonus for this method of settlement and it can increase economic returns as well. Each material has its own value and properties of electromagnetic wave absorbing strength. In this review paper, the differences between agricultural waste materials used as electromagnetic wave absorbers have been presented. This includes the properties of the activated carbon produced from the different agricultural waste materials, the method of preparation, and the result obtained from the activated carbon as an electromagnetic wave absorbing material. This review paper also highlights the materials’ characteristics, advantages and results of the introduction of honeycomb structure as a composite that will be used as an electromagnetic wave absorbing material. Moreover, the differences of materials’ properties in agricultural waste materials as activated carbon affects the percentages of electromagnetic waves that can be absorbed was also highlighted.