Abstract: To restrain the infrared emission of zinc ferrite in 8-14μm wave band, highly dispersed carbon coated ZnFeO nanocomposites were obtained from glucose solution under hydrothermal conditions, where ZnFeO particles prepared firstly in a simple hydrothermal route was used as the seeds. It was proved to be a core-shell structure of glucose-based carbon coated ZnFeO particles by transmission electron microscope (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and UV-Vis technologies. After heat-treated at 500℃, the carbonization degree of the coating is improved, but the core is still oxide. Whereas the core takes place a carbothermal reduction at 1000℃, it finally yields a structure with a graphite layer coated Fe nanocrystals. The infrared emissivity tests in 8-14μm waveband show that it can be lowered to 0.5 by the glucose-based carbon coating without the heat treatment. After heat-treated at 500℃, it lowers the average infrared emissivity further to 0.353, which will expand the stealth band of zinc ferrite.

Key words: hydrothermal synthesis, carbon coating, zinc ferrite, infrared emissivity