Covalent Amorphous Alumina-Hydrogenated Graphene Materials With Integrated Proton Radiation Shielding and Energy Storage Capability for Space Electronics.

Abstract

The development of adaptive material platforms that integrate proton radiation shielding with energy storage capabilities is critical for achieving both miniaturization and cost-effective reliability in space electronics. Here, we present an industrially viable technology for fabricating covalent amorphous alumina-hydrogenated graphene (AHG) films that can attenuate energetic protons, store electrical energy, and adapt to downsizing. Specifically, the fabrication involves thermal-driven precipitation and crystallization of carbon species into hydrogenated graphene layers, along with oxidation of aluminum into amorphous alumina, on a nickel-copper alloy surface. AHG films exhibit effective attenuation of energetic protons (15.2 MeV, 4.3 × 10¹² p/cm²), primarily attributed to proton trapping via C─H bond formation within the film matrix. Moreover, AHG films are laser-scribed into interdigitated electrodes for constructing micro-supercapacitors (µ-SCs) with impressive energy (8.33 mWh/cm³) and power (130 mW/cm³) densities. Operando measurements of the AHG µ-SCs demonstrate their dual functions in reducing the incident protons by ∼1.9 MeV in energy and ∼5.8 × 10¹¹ protons/cm² in fluence, while maintaining stable capacitive behavior with ∼93% capacitance retained after the severe irradiation. These findings suggest significant potential for developing single multifunctional products as a replacement for both traditional radiation shields and energy storage devices in next-generation space electronics.