Spacecraft materials can be transformed in the highly oxidative environment of low Earth orbit. The energetic collisions between an orbiting spacecraft and atomic oxygen in the residual atmosphere promote oxidation and erosion of material surfaces. Although mitigation of atomic-oxygen-induced degradation in space is a major challenge that has attracted much attention, the possibility now exists to turn these O atoms in space into an important technological tool for novel thin film oxide growth. The development of atomic oxygen processing of materials in space requires a marriage of expertises between researchers from the space environmental effects and film growth communities. The latter has shown that atomic oxygen is the crucial reactant for preparing important oxide thin films such as superconductors and ferroelectrics, and the former has the greatest knowledge base about atomic oxygen production and O-atom-surface interactions. The proposed work will bring together a leading space environmental effects researcher at Montana State University (MSU) with a small business that is exploring the frontier of materials processing with fast neutral atoms. The project will not only pave the way to thin film oxide growth in space, but it will characterize an atomic oxygen source that could revolutionize oxide growth here on earth. The funds sought here will exploit the capabilities of a world-class apparatus that has been donated to MSU by NASA. Matching support will come from Ionwerks of Houston, TX, whose goals include the growth of novel oxide films for commercial and government use.
| Mail: | Dr. Timothy K. Minton |
|
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry |
| Montana State University | |
| Bozeman, MT 59717 |
| E-mail: | tim_m@erc.montana.edu |
| Phone: | (406) 994-5394 |
| FAX: | (406) 994-5407 |
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