SmartIR Graphene-based adaptive thermal shields for satellites

Summary

As satellites get more miniaturized, they place unique thermal control challenges. Because of their low masses, they experience large temperature variations in the very tough and rapidly varying outer space environment. However, due to the lack of efficient active infrared materials, dynamic control of thermal radiation from satellites has been a challenge. As a result of the research undertaken in the SmartGraphene (ERC-CoG-2016-682723), we have successfully demonstrated graphene-based active infrared (IR) surfaces which can electrically control its thermal emissivity over the entire IR spectra. These active IR surfaces can provide new enabling technologies for active control of thermal radiation and heat management for outer space applications. This project (SmartIR) aims to develop a prototype for adaptive thermal blankets using multilayer graphene. The proposed thermal blankets will consist of electrically reconfigurable and flexible active graphene layers integrated with radiation sensors and control electronics that can be conformally wrapped onto solid objects to dynamically modulate their thermal emission and absorption. This project will focus on demonstrating prototype thermal sheets,
performance characterization in a space simulator and conducting a market feasibility study of the developed technology. The expected outcome of the project is to bring the technology to a development stage TRL 5-6 that could enable novel active thermal management

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