Marshall Space Flight Center Research and Technology Report 2019

Today, our calling to explore is greater than ever before, and here at Marshall Space Flight Centerwe make human deep space exploration possible. A key goal for Artemis is demonstrating and perfecting capabilities on the Moon for technologies needed for humans to get to Mars. This years report features 10 of the Agencys 16 Technology Areas, and I am proud of Marshalls role in creating solutions for so many of these daunting technical challenges. Many of these projects will lead to sustainable in-space architecture for human space exploration that will allow us to travel to the Moon, on to Mars, and beyond. Others are developing new scientific instruments capable of providing an unprecedented glimpse into our universe. NASA has led the charge in space exploration for more than six decades, and through the Artemis program we will help build on our work in low Earth orbit and pave the way to the Moon and Mars. At Marshall, we leverage the skills and interest of the international community to conduct scientific research, develop and demonstrate technology, and train international crews to operate further from Earth for longer periods of time than ever before first at the lunar surface, then on to our next giant leap, human exploration of Mars. While each project in this report seeks to advance new technology and challenge conventions, it is important to recognize the diversity of activities and people supporting our mission. This report not only showcases the Centers capabilities and our partnerships, it also highlights the progress our people have achieved in the past year. These scientists, researchers and innovators are why Marshall and NASA will continue to be a leader in innovation, exploration, and discovery for years to come

Exploration of Metal Composites and Carbon Nanotubes for Thermal Interfaces

Modern microelectronics are perpetually pushing against limitations caused by inadequate heat dissipation. One of the critical bottlenecks is at the interfaces between different materials and components. Thermal interface materials (TIM) are used to improve the heat transfer at these interfaces, and to improve TIMs is one of the critical research areas in order to reduce the total thermal resistance for electronics systems.A TIM requires both high thermal conductivity, ability to conform to mating surfaces, and the ability to absorb stress from thermal expansion mismatch during thermal cycling. Solder based TIMs utilize solder to form a strong connection between the mating surfaces with high thermal conductivity, but their stiffness prevents adequate absorption of thermal expansion mismatch. In this thesis, the solder is combined with a fiber network phase, which modifies the mechanical properties, while maintaining the continuous heat paths within the solder. This solder matrix fiber network composite TIM allows for the tailoring of the mechanical properties of solder based TIM while retaining thermal performance. Another promising TIM candidate is based on arrays of vertically aligned CNTs. CNT arrays can achieve good thermal performance, but the reliability had not previously been investigated experimentally. A thorough investigation of the reliability of CNT array TIM revealed that reliability is not guaranteed, but requires careful matching between CNT array height, bonding method and substrate configuration.Furthermore, we developed a new joule self-heating chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for the synthesis of double-sided CNT arrays on thin foils, which can be used both as TIM or as supercapacitor electrodes. Double-sided arrays are challenging with conventional CNT array synthesis methods, but the Joule heating CVD method allows for rapid, scalable and uniform synthesis of large area double-sided arrays. Finally, this method was used to study the effect of heat treatment of CNT arrays on graphite. The heat treatment serves to simultaneously improve the CNT crystallinity, eliminate catalyst residues, and form a seamless connection between CNT arrays and graphite

Advances in the synthesis and application of anti-fouling membranes using two-dimensional nanomaterials

This article provides a comprehensive review of the recent progress in the application of advanced two-dimensional nanomaterials (2DNMs) in membranes fabrication and application for water purification. The membranes fouling, its types, and anti-fouling mechanisms of different 2DNMs containing membrane systems are also discussed. The developments in membrane synthesis and modification using 2DNMs, especially graphene and graphene family materials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), MXenes, and others are critically reviewed. Further, the application potential of next-generation 2DNMs-based membranes in water/wastewater treatment systems is surveyed. Finally, the current problems and future opportunities of applying 2DNMs for anti-fouling membranes are also debated

Advances in the development of innovative sensor platforms for field analysis

none8noSustainable growth, environmental preservation, and improvement of life quality are strategic fields of worldwide interest and cornerstones of international policies. Humanity health and prosperity are closely related to our present choices on sustainable development. The main sources of pollution concern industry, including mining, chemical companies, and refineries, wastewater treatment; and consumers themselves. In order to guide and evaluate the eects of environmental policies, diuse monitoring campaigns and detailed (big) data analyses are needed. In this respect, the development and availability of innovative sensor platforms for field analysis and remote sensing are of crucial relevance. In this review, we provide an overview of the area, analyzing the major needs, available technologies, novel approaches, and perspectives. Among environmental pollutants that threaten the biosphere, we focus on inorganic and organic contaminants, which aect air and water quality. We describe the technologies for their assessment in the environment and then draw some conclusions and mention future perspectives opened by the integration of sensing technologies with robotics and the Internet of Things. Without the ambition to be exhaustive in such a rapidly growing field, this review is intended as a support for researchers and stakeholders looking for current, state-of-the-art, and key enabling technologies for environmental monitoring.openRizzato S.; Leo A.; Monteduro Anna Grazia; Chiriaco Maria Serena; Primiceri E.; Sirsi F.; Milone A.; Maruccio G.Rizzato, S.; Leo, A.; Monteduro, ANNA GRAZIA; Chiriaco', MARIA SERENA; Primiceri, E.; Sirsi, F.; Milone, A.; Maruccio, G

Funding and Strategic Alignment Guidance for Infusing Small Business Innovation Research Technology Into Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Projects at NASA Glenn Research Center for 2015

This document is intended to enable the more effective transition of NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) SBIR technologies funded by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program as well as its companion, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program into NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) projects. Primarily, it is intended to help NASA program and project managers find useful technologies that have undergone extensive research and development (RRD), through Phase II of the SBIR program; however, it can also assist non-NASA agencies and commercial companies in this process. aviation safety, unmanned aircraft, ground and flight test technique, low emissions, quiet performance, rotorcraf

DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATIONS OF MULTIFREQUENCY IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY METHODS IN DYNAMIC ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY

Force spectroscopy and surface dissipation mapping are two of the most important applications of dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM), in addition to topographical imaging. These measurements are commonly performed using the conventional amplitude-modulation and frequency-modulation dynamic imaging modes. However, the acquisition of the tip-sample interaction force curves using these methods can generally be performed only at selected horizontal positions on the sample, which means that a 3-dimensional representation of the tip-sample forces requires fine-grid scanning of a volume above the surface, making the process lengthy and prone to instrument drift. This dissertation contains the development of two novel atomic force spectroscopy methods that could enable acquisition of 3-dimensional tip-sample force representations through a single 2-dimensional scan of the surface. The force curve reconstruction approach in the first method is based on 3-pass scanning of the surface using the recently proposed single-frequency imaging mode called frequency and force modulation AFM. A second, more versatile method based on bimodal AFM operation is introduced, wherein the fundamental eigenmode of the cantilever is excited to perform the topographical scan and a simultaneously excited higher eigenmode is used to perform force spectroscopy. The dissertation further presents the development of a trimodal AFM characterization method for ambient air operation, wherein three eigenmodes of the cantilever are simultaneously excited with the objective of rapidly and quantitatively mapping the variations in conservative and dissipative surface properties. The new methods have been evaluated within numerical simulations using a multiscale simulation methodology, and experimental implementation has been accomplished for two multifrequency variants that can provide 2-dimensional surface property contrast

Mechanocapillary Forming of Filamentary Materials.

The hierarchical structure and organization of filaments within natural materials determine their collective chemical and physical functionalities. Synthetic nanoscale filaments such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known for their outstanding properties including high stiffness and strength at low density, and high electrical conductivity and current carrying capacity. Ordered assemblies of densely packed CNTs are therefore expected to enable the synthesis of new materials having outstanding multifunctional performance. However, current methods of CNT synthesis have inadequate control of quality, density and order. In pursuit of these needs, a new technique called capillary forming is used to manipulate vertically aligned (VA-) CNTs, and to enable their integration in applications ranging from microsystems to macroscale functional films. Capillary forming relies on shape-directed capillary rise during solvent condensation; followed by evaporation-induced shrinkage. Three-dimensional geometric transformations result from the heterogeneous strain distribution within the microstructures during the vapor-liquid-solid interface shrinkage. A portfolio of microscale CNT assemblies with highly ordered internal structure and freeform geometries including straight, bent, folded and helical profiles, are fabricated using this technique. The mechanical stiffness and electrical conductivity of capillary formed CNT micropillars are 5 GPa and 104 S/m respectively. These values are at least hundred-fold higher than as-grown CNT properties, and exceed the properties of typical microfabrication polymers. Responsive CNT-hydrogel composites are prototyped by combining isotropic moisture-induced swelling of the hydrogel with the anisotropic stiffness of CNTs to induce reversible self-directed shape changes of up to 30% stroke. Centimeter scale sheets are fabricated by mechanical rolling and capillary assisted joining of CNTs. The mechanical stiffness, strength and electrical conductivity of CNT sheets are comparable to those of continuous CNT microstructures; and can be tuned by engineering the morphology of the CNT joints. Finally, the applicability of mechanocapillary forming to other nanoscale filaments is demonstrated using silicon nanowires synthesized by metal assisted chemical etching. Further work using the methods developed in this dissertation could enable applications such as directional liquid transport, adhesives, and biosensors; toward an end goal of creating multifunctional surfaces having arbitrary structural, interfacial, and optical responsiveness.Ph.D.Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91466/1/stawfick_1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91466/2/stawfick_2.pd

Application of Nanotechnology for Sensitive Detection of Low-Abundance Single-Nucleotide Variations in Genomic DNA: A Review

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the simplest and most common type of DNA variations in the human genome. This class of attractive genetic markers, along with point mutations, have been associated with the risk of developing a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Several existing methods to detect SNPs and mutations in body fluids have faced limitations. Therefore, there is a need to focus on developing noninvasive future polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–free tools to detect low-abundant SNPs in such specimens. The detection of small concentrations of SNPs in the presence of a large background of wild-type genes is the biggest hurdle. Hence, the screening and detection of SNPs need efficient and straightforward strategies. Suitable amplification methods are being explored to avoid high-throughput settings and laborious efforts. Therefore, currently, DNA sensing methods are being explored for the ultrasensitive detection of SNPs based on the concept of nanotechnology. Owing to their small size and improved surface area, nanomaterials hold the extensive capacity to be used as biosensors in the genotyping and highly sensitive recognition of single-base mismatch in the presence of incomparable wild-type DNA fragments. Different nanomaterials have been combined with imaging and sensing techniques and amplification methods to facilitate the less time-consuming and easy detection of SNPs in different diseases. This review aims to highlight some of the most recent findings on the aspects of nanotechnology-based SNP sensing methods used for the specific and ultrasensitive detection of low-concentration SNPs and rare mutations