Proposal Number:          21-1- Z13.01-1629

          

          

   

Subtopic Title:
      Active and Passive Dust Mitigation Surfaces

          

          

   

Proposal Title:
      Passive Nano-and Micro-Textured Dust-Mitigation Surfaces in Space-Grade Materials Made with a Highly-Scalable Fabrication Process

          

          

   

Firm:

          

Smart Material Solutions, Inc.

          

   

Address:

          

984 Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC 27607

          

   

Phone:

          

(919) 521-4440                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Stephen Furst

          

   

E-mail:

          

furst@smartmaterialsolutions.com

          

   

Address:

          

984 Trinity Rd., NC 27607 - 4940

          

   

Phone:

          

(919) 521-4440                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Stephen Furst

          

   

E-mail:

          

furst@smartmaterialsolutions.com

          

   

Address:

          

984 Trinity Rd., NC 27607 - 4940

          

   

Phone:

          

(919) 521-4440                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :                                                                                                                                                          
Begin: 2
End: 4

          

          

     

Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words):

In this SBIR Phase 1 project, Smart Material Solutions, Inc. will fabricate passive dust mitigating surfaces using micro- and nano-texturing. The texturing will be created by SMS’s novel and highly scalable “Nanocoining” technique, which uses mechanical indenting to rapidly replicate micro- and nano-patterns onto a metal surface, such as a seamless cylindrical drum mold for roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography.

The project involves a partnership with Professor Chih-Hao Chang at the University of Texas, Austin, an expert in the wetting and adhesion properties of nanotextured surfaces. Professor Chang’s experience will guide the design of surfaces to resist adhesion of lunar dust simulants. Designed surfaces with a range of topographies will be created on a 6” diameter metal mold and replicated into space-grade polymers such as FEP, Teflon, and Kapton using thermal and UV-assisted embossing. The fabricated textured surfaces will then be chemically treated and tested with lunar dust simulant at UT Austin.

The proposed work will further develop a nano-patterning technique that is more than 500 times faster than electron beam lithography and can be used for multiple surface modification or optical applications with value in industry, at NASA, and beyond.

          

          

     

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

• Passive dust mitigation surfaces
• Superhydrophobic surfaces
• Drag reduction surfaces
• Anti-reflective surfaces for improved solar panel efficiency
• Metamaterials for sensing and energy harvesting

          

          

     

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

• Micro optics for augmented and virtual reality
• Light extraction films for LED/OLED displays and lighting
• Tuned spectral absorbers for camouflage
• Anti-microbial surfaces

          

          

     

Duration:     6