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Page 8 of 28 Wang et al. Soft Sci. 2026, 6, 8

Besides, Shen et al. synthesized balsa wood-derived carbon aerogels loaded with magnetic metals via a
solvothermal method, followed by high-temperature carbonization . The pore structure of the wood-based
[77]
substrate exerted a regulatory effect on the reflection and scattering of EM waves, while the incorporation of
magnetic fillers optimized impedance matching. This synergistic design enhanced both dielectric and
magnetic loss mechanisms, thereby obtaining improved microwave-absorbing performance.

In addition to introducing magnetic components into carbon-based aerogels to enhance performance by
supplying magnetic loss, doping heteroatoms into the carbon-based framework is another commonly used
method to effectively tailor dielectric loss and thereby improve microwave absorption performance. Xiao et
al. used fir wood as a raw material to in situ grow nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) within
wood-derived porous carbon, while simultaneously loading magnetic cobalt nanoparticles . The composites
[78]
exhibited a 3D conductive network structure with excellent impedance matching behavior, in which both
polarization loss and conduction loss could be tailored during the doping process, thereby demonstrating
controllable microwave absorption performance. Besides, cotton , bamboo , and loofah sponge can
[79]
[80]
[81]
serve as substrate materials to prepare lightweight biomass-derived carbon aerogels. Their natural
hierarchical porous microstructures provide abundant adsorption sites for metallic ions, which can be in situ
converted and reduced to various magnetic components during calcination, resulting in higher RL values
and broader EAB.

Polymer foams template
In addition to natural biomass with unique 3D structures, polymers with 3D porous structures are also
regarded as ideal templates for preparing corresponding carbon-based aerogels with different components,
while maintaining the pore structure effectively.

Li et al. prepared nitrogen-doped CNTs and CoO/Co nanoparticle-modified carbon aerogels by pyrolyzing a
zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-decorated melamine foam template . The magnetic particles
[82]
contributed to magnetic losses and effectively optimized impedance matching, while heteroatom doping
enhanced dipolar polarization. In addition, the unique porous nanotube structure promoted multi-reflection
and multi-scattering of incident microwaves, achieving a minimum RL value of -52.3 dB. Yu et al.
synthesized magnetic nitrogen-doped porous carbon-based MAM using melamine foam as a template . By
[83]
adjusting the heat treatment temperature, both the microstructure and EM response could be controlled. The
ultralight aerogel could be supported on Setaria viridis, achieving a minimum RL value of -44.15 dB at
11.18 GHz with a thickness of 2.5 mm, attributed to the synergistic effect of hetero-components and the
porous microstructure. In addition to individually loading particles and CNTs on 3D porous melamine foam
templates, Yu et al. successfully prepared zero-dimensional (0D) magnetic particles, one-dimensional (1D)
CNTs, and two-dimensional (2D) MXene-loaded 3D porous carbon-based composites via surface treatment,
self-assembly, and in situ growth strategies . The results demonstrated that the melamine-derived
[84]
composites possessed an effective microwave absorption bandwidth of 4.72 GHz, providing new insights for
the development of carbon-based porous MAMs with coexisting multidimensional components. Similarly,
Jia et al. synthesized the carbon-based porous microstructure with the decoration of the magnetic
nanoparticles and the CNTs through chemical vapor deposition methods . By altering the deposition time
[85]
to regulate the composition, both the EM parameters and the corresponding microwave absorption
performance of the sample could be controlled. When the pyrolysis time of C H was 60 min, the microwave
2
2
absorber exhibited a strong absorption capacity of -44.48 dB, a wide effective absorption frequency range of
5.0 GHz, a thin matching thickness of 1.68 mm, and a low density. Furthermore, magnetic
nanoparticles-encapsulated CNTs can be in situ grown on carbonized melamine foam via a facile
carbonization method , as shown in Figure 3. The magnetic-dielectric coupling effect could be enhanced by
[86]
tailoring the concentration of the precursor, thereby optimizing the RL value to -75.4 dB at 5.2 GHz.