Radiation shielding systems using nanotechnology

A system for shielding from radiation particles, the system comprising:

• a first substrate, having an array of metal-like fingers connected to a first substrate first surface at a first end of each finger, with each finger being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the first substrate, where the fingers have an average length h1 in a range of 100-1000 nm, an average diameter d1 in a range of 10-50 nm and an average areal density ρ1 in a range of 0.05-0.5 gm/cm2;
• a second electrically conducting substrate, spaced apart from the first substrate and having an array of carbon nanostructures (“CNSs”) connected to a first surface of the second substrate, with each CNS being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the second substrate and extending toward the array of metal-like fingers, where the CNSs have an average length h2 in a range of 50-100 nm, an average diameter d2 in a range of 10-50 nm and an average areal density ρ2 in a range of 0.05-0.5 gm/cm2, where at least one CNS is coated with a selected electro-polymer having an average coating thickness th1 in a range of 100-1000 nm, where an exposed end of a selected CNS and an exposed end of a finger that is a nearest neighbor to the selected CNS have an average spacing of h3 in a range of 50-1000 nm;
• and
• an electric current/voltage pulse discharge and dissipation system, connected to the second substrate at one or more second substrate locations, to receive and dissipate at least one of an electric current or voltage pulse received from the second substrate,
• whereby at least one radiation particle, received at the first substrate, generates at least one of an electric current pulse and a voltage pulse that is received by the fingers, received by the CNS and electro-polymer coating, received by the second substrate, and dissipated by the discharge and dissipation system.