optimization-test-and-diagnostics-of-miniaturized-hall-thrusters

Optimization, Test and Diagnostics of Miniaturized Hall Thrusters

Miniaturized spacecraft and satellites require smart, highly efficient and durable low-thrust thrusters, capable of extended, reliable operation without ...

Nanyang Technological University

Through a combinatorial approach involving experimental measurement and plasma modelling, it is shown that a high degree of control over diamond-like nanocarbon film sp3/sp2 ratio (and hence film properties) may be exercised, starting at the level of electrons (through modification of the plasma electron energy distribution function). Hydrogenated amorphous carbon nanoparticle films with high percentages of diamond-like bonds are grown using a middle-frequency (2 MHz) inductively coupled Ar+CH4 plasma. The sp3 fractions measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy in the thin films are explained qualitatively using sp3/sp2 ratios 1) derived from calculated sp3 and sp2 hybridized precursor species densities in a global plasma discharge model and 2) measured experimentally. It is shown that at high discharge power and lower CH4 concentrations, the sp3/sp2 fraction is higher. Our results suggest that a combination of predictive modeling and experimental studies is instrumental to achieve deterministically grown made-to-order diamond-like nanocarbons suitable for a variety of applications spanning from nano-magnetic resonance imaging to spin-flip quantum information devices. This deterministic approach can be extended to graphene, carbon nanotips, nanodiamond and other nanocarbon materials for a variety of applications.

Made-to-order nanocarbons through deterministic plasma nanotechnology.

Increasingly intricate in their composition and structural organization, hierarchical multicomponent metamaterials with nonlinear spatially reconfigurable functionalities challenge the intrinsic constraints of natural materials, revealing tremendous potential for the advancement of biochemistry, nanophotonics, and medicine. Recent breakthroughs in high-resolution nanofabrication utilizing ultranarrow, precisely controlled ion or laser beams have enabled assembly of architectures of unprecedented structural and functional complexity, yet costly, time- and energy-consuming high-resolution sequential techniques do not operate effectively at industry-required scale. Inspired by the fictional Baron Munchausen's fruitless attempt to pull himself up, it is demonstrated that metamaterials can undergo intrinsically driven self-assembly, metaphorically pulling themselves up into existence. These internal drivers hold a key to unlocking the potential of metamaterials and mapping a new direction for the large-area, cost-efficient self-organized fabrication of practical devices. A systematic exploration of these efforts is presently missing, and the driving forces governing the intrinsically driven self-assembly are yet to be fully understood. Here, recent progress in the self-organized formation and self-propelled growth of complex hierarchical multicomponent metamaterials is reviewed, with emphasis on key principles, salient features, and potential limitations of this family of approaches. Special stress is placed on self-assembly driven by plasma, current in liquid, ultrasonic, and similar highly energetic effects, which enable self-directed formation of metamaterials with unique properties and structures.

Hierarchical Multicomponent Inorganic Metamaterials: Intrinsically Driven Self-Assembly at the Nanoscale.

Spacecraft are expected to traverse enormous distances over long periods of time without an opportunity for maintenance, re-fueling, or repair, and, for interplanetary probes, no on-board crew to actively control the spacecraft configuration or flight path. Nevertheless, space technology has reached the stage when mining of space resources, space travel, and even colonization of other celestial bodies such as Mars and the Moon are being seriously considered. These ambitious aims call for spacecraft capable of self-controlled, self-adapting, and self-healing behavior. It is a tough challenge to address using traditional materials and approaches for their assembly. True interplanetary advances may only be attained using novel self-assembled and self-healing materials, which would allow for realization of next-generation spacecraft, where the concepts of adaptation and healing are at the core of every level of spacecraft design. Herein, recent achievements are captured and future directions in materials-driven development of space technology outlined.

Shuyan Xu

Plasma Sources and Applications Centre,
National Institute of Education,
Plasma Sources and Applications Centre, National Institute of Education

Nanyang Technological University

Optimization, Test and Diagnostics of Miniaturized Hall Thrusters

Shuyan Xu

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Nanyang Technological University

Optimization, Test and Diagnostics of Miniaturized Hall Thrusters

Plasma Sources and Applications Centre,
National Institute of Education,
Plasma Sources and Applications Centre, National Institute of Education