Constructing porous magnetic Ni@C-anchored carbon foams for excellent magnetic-dielectric synergy to develop integrated microwave absorbers with efficient thermal insulation and antibacterial properties

• • The optimized Ni@C/CFs achieve a minimum reflection loss (RL min) of −27.58 dB and an ultra-wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 7.20 GHz, demonstrating superior microwave absorption performance suitable for broadband EM protection applications. • • The material exhibits >95% inhibition against E. coli, providing antibacterial functionality that is critical for biomedical and hygienic environments where microbial contamination is a concern. • • The 3D porous structure contributes to efficient thermal insulation, enabling simultaneous thermal management and EM absorption, which is essential for devices operating in high-temperature or fluctuating thermal conditions. • • The fabrication process uses sustainable precursors (chitosan foams and Ni-NAC) and allows tunable carbonization temperature and Ni-NAC concentration, offering scalable and cost-effective production routes for industrial adoption.