Understanding How Layer Ordering Effects the Electronic Stopping Power of Protons in Multi-Layered Carbon Materials

Space travel is hazardous because its environment contains higher amounts of radiation compared to the Earth. For this reason, materials must be optimized for radiation shielding to protect organic life forms and electrical equipment. This project focuses on creating effective shielding for protection against space radiation. The Stopping Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM) is a software used to simulate the electronic stopping power of protons in materials and can assist in optimizing them for shielding. SRIM was used to simulate diamond (D), graphite (G), carbon nanotubes (CNT) and combinations of material layer ordering consisting of the three allotropes with 145 MeV Protons. Results showed that diamond, graphite and carbon nanotube (D_G_CNT) were the optimal order of layering for minimum penetration depth amongst these multi-layered materials. The multi-layered material CNT_G_D having the least effective stopping power reordered to D_G_CNT, the travel depth reduces by 28.14%, showing how layer ordering effects the stopping power of a material.