Electron emitting graphene based composite coating for spacecraft charging mitigation

Faraday and Utah State University propose to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing electrophoretic deposition to develop graphene features with controlled functional properties in order to address the DoD need for a spacecraft charging mitigation. Implementation of such materials in DoD mission areas is anticipated to lower costs, improve sustainability, and increase readiness. The proposed Phase I effort will demonstrate the feasibility of applying graphene based composite features, and elucidate the advantages in terms of autonomous electron emission and modeling of a test approach to demonstrate its effectiveness in plasma environment. The Phase I effort will focus on developing range of graphene features with different structural composition to tune its work function, characterization of the functional properties of the materials, and development of a preliminary technology transition plan. The Phase II effort will build upon this effort to further optimize the functional properties, and validate the process on a full-scale and perform a system-level validation test.