Investigating the Raman Characteristics of Regolith Simulants Towards the Creation of Functional Materials

This study investigates the functionality and feasibility of materials distinguished by their regolith composition for application as sensors in extreme environments. The focus is placed on regolith composites sourced from different lunar terrains-specifically, the Lunar Highland (LH) and Lunar Mare (LM)-to assess their potential for fabricating functional and reliable sensors via digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. Epoxy composites incorporating 10% by weight of LMS-1D and LHS-1D simulants were analyzed to determine their propensity for dispersion in a manufactured sample and the potential for leveraging their spectral emissions for sensing. The effectiveness of these materials was evaluated by measuring the Raman peaks in powder and manufactured form for peak identification as well as comparisons of the sensitivity of peakshifts and linewidth changes. These results contribute to the broader understanding of lunar regolith-based composite materials for sensor applications.