In a method for applying an electron absorber layer to a substrate, an electron absorber layer is produced from a composite material, by coating the substrate with a metallic material, and material inclusions made from an additional material are embedded in the metallic material during coating. The metallic material contains aluminum, magnesium, cobalt, iron, chromium, titanium, nickel, copper, or an alloy or mixture thereof. The additional material contains one or more of the following substances: boron, carbon or silicon, a mixture of these elements, one or more chemical compounds made from or having at least two of these elements, or a mixture of such chemical compounds.