Carbon-nanotube-based　composites　are　highly　desirable　for　addressing　the　difficulties　relevant　to　the　quality　of　electromagnetic　wave　absorbers.　The　introduction　of　lightweight　nanocomposites　for　constructing　new　structures　has　been　widely　studied　due　to　the　transformation　in　impedance　matching　and　attenuation.　In　this　paper,　a　novel　carbon　nanotube-graphene　oxide-zeolitic　imidazolate　framework-8　(CNT/RGO/ZIF-8)　ternary　hybrid　structure　was　successfully　fabricated　by　a　facile　solvothermal　process.　The　ZIF-8　was　entangled　initially　by　carbon　nanotubes　via　the　π-π　interaction　between　organic　ligands　and　benzene　ring　structure　in　CNT.　Then,　the　CNT/ZIF-8　composite　was　immobilized　on　the　surface　of　RGO　by　interacting　with　the　active　functional　group　of　RGO.　The　structure　and　performance　for　CNT,　CNT/ZIF-8,　and　CNT/RGO/ZIF-8　were　compared　to　investigate　the　interaction　mechanisms　between　components,　and　CNT/ZIF-8　exhibited　a　distinct　improvement　for　microwave　absorption　performance.　Furthermore,　the　introduction　of　RGO　can　accelerate　the　amelioration　of　absorption　characteristics.　The　interfacial　bonding　between　CNT,　RGO,　and　ZIF-8　exerts　a　great　influence　on　the　absorbing　quality.　The　mechanism　of　absorption　of　electromagnetic　waves　was　explained　by　the　synergistic　effects　of　conduction　loss,　polarization　behaviors,　and　eddy　current.　The　unique　structure　could　offer　new　insights　to　exploit　advanced　microwave-absorption　materials.　©　2020　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.