CNTs/ZnOw　composites　were　fabricated　by　a　simple　mechanical　mixing　method.　The　effects　of　the　different　CNTs　and　ZnOw　mass　fractions　on　the　electromagnetic　parameters　and　wave　absorbing　properties　of　the　composites　were　studied.　The　complex　permittivity　and　attenuation　constant　increase　with　increasing　mass　fractions　of　CNTs　and　ZnOw.　However,　the　microwave　impedance　decreases　with　the　increasing　concentrations　of　CNTs　and　ZnOw.　The　experimental　results　show　that　4　wt%　CNTs　mixed　with　10　wt%　ZnOw　has　the　optimum　microwave　absorption　ability　with　a　thickness　of　2.0　mm.　The　minimum　reflection　loss　is　-37.03　dB　at　12.24　GHz　and　the　bandwidth　corresponding　to　the　reflection　loss　below　-10　dB　is　more　than　4.04　GHz.　Compared　with　pure　CNTs　or　ZnOw,　it　cannot　only　greatly　reduce　the　mass　fractions　of　microwave　absorbing　materials,　but　also　enhance　the　microwave　absorption　properties.　The　results　indicate　that　the　prepared　CNTs/ZnOw　composites　have　excellent　absorbing　properties　with　thin　thickness　and　lightweight.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.