Fractal frequency selective surface embedded broadband microwave absorber using disassembled waste printed circuit boards

The main aim of this study is to develop an cost effective microwave absorber that can provide wide absorption bandwidth (RL ≤ -10 dB) with less coating thickness (i.e., ≤ 2.0 mm). To achieve this, an electronic waste composite based microwave absorber blended with fractal frequency selective surface (FSS) is presented. The disassembled computer and mobile printed circuit boards (PCBs) based electronic waste composite is prepared by top-down nanofabrication approach. The measured complex dielectric permittivity and complex magnetic permeability values have been used for implementation of a double layer absorber in the range of 8.2 to 12.4 GHz. Further, a double layer absorber loaded with Minkowski fractal geometry based FSS is designed with the help of Ansoft HFSS. The developed absorber possesses a peak reflection loss (RL) value of -30.5 dB at 11.3 GHz for 1.9 mm absorber layer thickness. Such a performance permits the use of absorber for various practical electromagnetic applications in an efficient manner.