ANU Research Set to Shake-up Space Missions
March 15, 2019 | Australian National UniversityEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
A new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found a number of 2D materials that not only withstand being sent into space but can potentially thrive in the harsh conditions.
It could influence the type of materials used to build everything from satellite electronics to solar cells and batteries - making future space missions more accessible, and cheaper to launch.
Ph.D. candidate and lead author Tobias Vogl was particularly interested in whether the 2D materials could withstand intense radiation.
"The space environment is obviously very different to what we have here on Earth. So we exposed a variety of 2D materials to radiation levels comparable to what we expect in space," Mr. Vogl said.
"We found most of these devices coped really well. We were looking at electrical and optical properties and basically didn't see much difference at all."
During a satellite's orbit around the earth, it is subject to heating, cooling, and radiation. While there's been plenty of work done demonstrating the robustness of 2D materials when it comes to temperature fluctuations, the impact of radiation has largely been unknown - until now.
The ANU team carried out a number of simulations to model space environments for potential orbits. This was used to expose 2D materials to the expected radiation levels. They found one material actually improved when subjected to intense gamma radiation.
"A material getting stronger after irradiation with gamma rays - it reminds me of the hulk," Mr. Vogl said.
"We're talking about radiation levels above what we would see in space - but we actually saw the material become better, or brighter."
Mr. Vogl says this specific material could potentially be used to detect radiation levels in other harsh environments, like near nuclear reactor sites.
"The applications of these 2D materials will be quite versatile, from satellite structures reinforced with graphene - which is five-times stiffer than steel - to lighter and more efficient solar cells, which will help when it comes to actually getting the experiment into space."
Among the tested devices were atomically thin transistors. Transistors are a crucial component for every electronic circuit. The study also tested quantum light sources, which could be used to form what Mr. Vogl describes as the "backbone" of the future quantum internet.
"They could be used for satellite-based long-distance quantum cryptography networks. This quantum internet would be hacking proof, which is more important than ever in this age of rising cyberattacks and data breaches."
"Australia is already a world leader in the field of quantum technology," senior author Professor Ping Koy Lam said.
"In light of the recent establishment of the Australian Space Agency, and ANU's own Institute for Space, this work shows that we can also compete internationally in using quantum technology to enhance space instrumentations."
Suggested Items
SEMICON Europa 2024 Call for Abstracts Opens
05/21/2024 | SEMISEMI Europe announced the opening of the Call for Abstracts for SEMICON Europa 2024, to be held November 12-15 at Messe München in Munich, Germany. Selected speakers will share their expertise at the Advanced Packaging Conference (APC), Fab Management Forum (FMF), MEMS & Imaging Sensors Summit and during presentations on the show floor.
Material Insight: The Dielectric Constant of PCB Materials
05/17/2024 | Dr. Preeya Kuray -- Column: Material InsightIn the world of PCB design, miniaturization can be achieved by using low dielectric constant (Dk) materials. Low Dk materials can allow for a reduction in thickness while maintaining a given trace width, leading to lower transmission loss and higher density circuitry.
IPC APEX EXPO: Some Thoughts About Growth
05/16/2024 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007After two and a half days of wandering the aisles at IPC APEX EXPO 2024, for the first time, I almost felt like I was exploring CES. There were so many booths and exhibits that I could describe, but I’d like to focus on the growth and huge value of this event, which has expanded well beyond just the growing and impressive exhibit show floor.
The Shaughnessy Report: Unlock Your High-speed Material Constraints
05/15/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportThe world of PCB materials used to be a fairly simple one. It was divided into two groups: the “traditional” laminates, often called FR-4, and the high-speed laminates developed especially for high-speed PCBs. These were two worlds that usually didn’t collide. But then traditional laminates started getting better, and high-speed designers and design engineers took notice and started to reconsider what FR-4 could be used for.
Breaking High-speed Material Constraints: Design007 Magazine — May 2024
05/14/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamDo you need specialty materials for your high-speed designs? Maybe not. Improvements in resins mean designers of high-speed boards can sometimes use traditional laminate systems instead of high-speed materials, saving time and money while streamlining the fab process. In the May 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, our contributors explain how to avoid overconstraining your materials when working with high-speed boards.