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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

RF surface resistance of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) thin films

The excitement engendered by the discovery of the new T sub c oxide superconductors has led to much speculation about practical applications of thin films of these materials in digital and analog electronic devices. Most of these envisioned applications involve high frequency signals for which a detailed knowledge of the surface impedance of the novel superconductors is very important. We have measured the surface resistance of thin films of YBaCuO in the frequency range 0.5 less than f less than 17 GHz using a stripline-resonator method. The stripline procedure also was used to measure the surface resistance of high quality gold and aluminum films; the resistance values obtained agree with values predicted from the measured dc resistance using the Pippard formalism for the anomalous skin effect. The YBaCuO were produced by a multilayer deposition process. The films are formed by e-beam evaporation of 24 layers of Y, Ba, and Cu. Films with the highest transition temperature were obtained using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates. After deposition, the films are transferred to a furnace where they are annealed in flowing O2 at 850 C for 2h. The furnace then is turned off and allowed to cool to 100 C in about 16 h. Auger profiling of the films made by this process shows that the concentrations of Y, Ba, Cu, and O are uniform to within 1 percent throughout the thickness of the film.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1989

Microwave microstrip resonator measurements of Y1Ba2Cu3O(7-x) and Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O(8-y) thin films

Radio frequency (RF) surface resistance measurement experiments on high T(sub c) thin films were performed. The method uses a microstrip resonator comprising a top gold conductor strip, an alumina dielectric layer, and a separate superconductivity ground plane. The surface resistance of the superconducting ground plane can be determined, with reference to a gold calibration standard, from the measured quality factor of the half-wave resonator. Initial results near 7 GHz over the temperature range from 25 to 300 K are presented for YBa2Cu3O(7-x) and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8-y) thin film samples deposited by an electron beam flash evaporation process. The RF surface resistance at 25 K for both materials in these samples was found to be near 25 milliohms.

Lichtenberg, Christopher L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Solid State Technology Branch of NASA Lewis Research Center Second Annual Digest, June 1989 - June 1990

A collection of papers and presentations authored by the branch between June 1989 and June 1990 is presented. The papers are organized into four sections. Section 1 deals with research in microwave circuits and includes full integrated circuits, the demonstration of optical/RF interfaces, and the evaluation of some hybrid circuitry. Section 2 indicates developments in coplanar waveguides and their use in breadboard circuits. Section 3 addresses high temperature superconductivity and includes: thin film deposition, transport measurement of film characteristics, RF surface resistant measurements, substrate permittivity measurements, measurements of microstrip line characteristics at cryogenic temperatures, patterning of superconducting films, and evaluation of simple passive microstrip circuitry based on YBaCuO films. Section 4 deals with carbon films, silicon carbide, GaAs/AlGaAs, HgCdTe, and other materials.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1986

A lead-on-sapphire superconducting cavity of superior quality

A cavity consisting of a superconducting lead film on a sapphire substrate has been fabricated to obtain the enhanced frequency stability possible with this configuration. The cavity exhibits a quality value Q exceeding 2 x 10 to the 9th in its TE011 mode with a resonant frequency of 2.689 GHz. Methods of fabrication and testing of the cavity are presented. Since the interface between the film and substrate is exposed ot the full value of the resonant magnetic field, the present experiment is the most sensitive test to date for enhanced losses at the interface itself. No evidence of such losses is used. In fact, the measured values of the surface resistance match very well predictions for RF losses based on the BCS theory.

Thakoor, S.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Analysis of the Effect of Surface Modification on Polyimide Composites Coated with Erosion Resistant Materials

The aim of this research is to enhance performance of composite coatings through modification of graphite-reinforced polyimide composite surfaces prior to metal bond coat/ hard topcoat application for use in the erosive and/or oxidative environments of advanced engines. Graphite reinforced polyimide composites, PMR-15 and PMR-II-50, formed by sheet molding and pre-pregging will be surface treated, overlaid with a bond coat and then coated with WC-Co. The surface treatment will include cleaning, RF plasma or ultraviolet light- ozone etching, and deposition of SiO(x) groups. These surface treatments will be studied in order to investigate and improve adhesion and oxidation resistance. The following panels were provided by NASA-Glenn Research Center(NASA-GRC): Eight compression molded PMR-II-50; 6 x 6 x 0.125 in. Two vacuum-bagged PMR-II-50; 12 x 12 x 0.125 in. Eight compression molded PMR-15; 6 x 6 x 0.125 in. One vacuum-bagged PMR-15; 12 x 12 x 0.125 in. All panels were made using a 12 x 12 in. T650-35 8HS (3K-tow) graphite fabric. A diamond-wafering blade, with deionized water as a cutting fluid, was used to cut PMR-II-50 and PMR-15 panels into 1 x 1 in. pieces for surface tests. The panel edges exhibiting delamination were used for the preliminary surface preparation tests as these would be unsuitable for strength and erosion testing. PMR-15 neat resin samples were also provided by NASA GRC. Surface profiles of the as-received samples were determined using a Dektak III Surface profile measuring system. Two samples of compression molded PMR-II-50 and PMR-15, vacuum-bagged PMR-II-50 and PMR-15 were randomly chosen for surface profile measurement according to ANSI/ASME B46.1. Prior to each measurement, the samples were blasted with compressed air to remove any artifacts. Five 10 mm-long scans were made on each sample. The short and long wavelength cutoff filter values were set at 100 and 1000 m, diamond stylus radius was 12.5 microns. Table 1 is a summary of the arithmetic average roughness (Ra) and waviness (Wa) for the composite surfaces.

Ndalama, Tchinga↗
NASA NTRS1986

Growth of crystals of several boron-carbon compositions by chemical vapor deposition

Boron-carbon compounds have been deposited by the flow of carbon tetrachloride and boron trichloride, in the presence of a large excess of hydrogen, over a graphite surface maintained at 1000-1300 C. Deposits were formed on either an RF-heated disc or a tube or insert heated by a resistance furnace. Crystalline materials ranging in composition from B2C to B17C have been obtained.

Kevill, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1986

An evaluation of candidate oxidation resistant materials for space applications in LEO

Ground based testing of materials considered for polyimide (Kapton) solar array blanket protection and graphite-epoxy stroctural member protection was performed in an RF plasma asher. Protective coatings on Kapton from various commercial sources and from NASA Lewis Research Center were exposed to the air plasma; and mass loss per unit area was measured for each sample. All samples evaluated provided some protection to the underlying surface, but metal-oxide-fluoropolymer coatings provided the best protection by exhibiting very little degradation after 47 hr of asher exposure. Mica paint was evaluated as a protective coating for graphite-epoxy structural members. Mica appeared to be resistant to attack by atomic oxygen, but only offered limited protection as a paint. this is believed to be due to the paint vehicle ashing underneath the mica leaving unattached mica flakes lying on the surface. The protective coatings on Kapton evaluated so far are promising but further research on protection of graphite-epoxy support structures is needed.

Rutledge, Sharon↗
NASA NTRS2003

Arrays of Carbon Nanotubes as RF Filters in Waveguides

Brushlike arrays of carbon nanotubes embedded in microstrip waveguides provide highly efficient (high-Q) mechanical resonators that will enable ultraminiature radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuits. In its basic form, this invention is an RF filter based on a carbon nanotube array embedded in a microstrip (or coplanar) waveguide, as shown in Figure 1. In addition, arrays of these nanotube-based RF filters can be used as an RF filter bank. Applications of this new nanotube array device include a variety of communications and signal-processing technologies. High-Q resonators are essential for stable, low-noise communications, and radar applications. Mechanical oscillators can exhibit orders of magnitude higher Qs than electronic resonant circuits, which are limited by resistive losses. This has motivated the development of a variety of mechanical resonators, including bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators, surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators, and Si and SiC micromachined resonators (known as microelectromechanical systems or MEMS). There is also a strong push to extend the resonant frequencies of these oscillators into the GHz regime of state-of-the-art electronics. Unfortunately, the BAW and SAW devices tend to be large and are not easily integrated into electronic circuits. MEMS structures have been integrated into circuits, but efforts to extend MEMS resonant frequencies into the GHz regime have been difficult because of scaling problems with the capacitively-coupled drive and readout. In contrast, the proposed devices would be much smaller and hence could be more readily incorporated into advanced RF (more specifically, microwave) integrated circuits.

Hoppe, Daniel↗
NASA NTRS1976

Chemical vapor deposition growth

A laboratory type CVD reactor system with a vertical deposition chamber and sample pedestal heated by an external RF coil has been extensively modified by installation of mass flow controllers, automatic process sequence timers, and special bellows-sealed air-operated valves for overall improved performance. Various film characterization procedures, including classical metallography, SEM analyses, X ray diffraction analyses, surface profilometry, and electrical measurements (resistivity, carrier concentration, mobility, spreading resistance profiles, and minority-carrier lifetime by the C-V-t method) area used to correlate Si sheet properties with CVD parameters and substrate properties. Evaluation procedures and measurements are given. Experimental solar cell structures were made both in epitaxial Si sheet (on sapphire substrates) and in polycrystalline material on alumina substrates, the former to provide an indication of what might be an upper limit on performance of the latter. Preliminary results are given, as obtained in cell structures not specially designed to allow for the unique properties of the sheet material, and fabricated in material known to be far from optimum for photovoltaic performance. Low power conversion efficiencies have been obtained in the epitaxial as well as the polycrystalline Si sheet.

Ruth, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

An evaluation of candidate oxidation resistant materials

Ground based testing of materials considered for Kapton solar array blanket protection, graphite epoxy structural member protection, and high temperature radiators was performed in an RF plasma asher. Ashing rates for Kapton were correlated with rates measured on STS-8 to determine the exposure time equivalent to one year in low Earth orbit (LEO) at a constant density space station orbital flux. Protective coatings on Kapton from Tekmat, Andus Corporation, and LeRC were evaluated in the plasma asher and mass loss rates per unit area were measured for each sample. All samples evaluated provided some protection to the underlying surface but ion beam sputter deposited samples of SiO2 and SiO2 with 8% polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) showed no evidence of degradation after 47 hours of exposure. Mica paint was evaluated as a protective coating for graphite epoxy structural members. Mica appears to be resistant to attack by atomic oxygen but only offers some limited protection as a paint because the paint vehicles evaluated to date were not resistant to atomic oxygen. Four materials were selected for evaluation as candidate radiator materials: stainless steel, copper, niobium-1% zirconium, and titanium-6% aluminum-4% vanadium. These materials were surface textured by various means to improve their emittance. Emittances as high as 0.93 at 2.5 microns for stainless steel and 0.89 at 2.5 microns for Nb-1 Zr were obtained from surface texturing. There were no significant changes in emittance after asher exposure.

Rutledge, Sharon↗
NASA NTRS2001

Slightly Conductive Transparent Films for Space Applications: Manufacturability and Durability

Highly transparent, slightly conductive films of co-deposited indium tin oxide (ITO) and MgF, have possible applications for environmental protection of exterior surfaces of spacecraft. Reliable preparation of films with the desired sheet resistivity (approximately 10(exp 8) ohms/square) is difficult because the electrical properties of ITO-Mg F, are highly dependent on film composition. We have investigated the use of plasma emission monitoring to improve the reproducibility of films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering. While considerable improve ment was observed, it appears that some in-situ electrical or optica l characterization will be needed for reliable production coating wit h ITO-MgF,. We have also done further evaluation of a possibly undesi rable photoconductive effect previously observed in these films.

Uppala, N.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Method for sequentially processing a multi-level interconnect circuit in a vacuum chamber

The processing of wafer devices to form multilevel interconnects for microelectronic circuits is described. The method is directed to performing the sequential steps of etching the via, removing the photo resist pattern, back sputtering the entire wafer surface and depositing the next layer of interconnect material under common vacuum conditions without exposure to atmospheric conditions. Apparatus for performing the method includes a vacuum system having a vacuum chamber in which wafers are processed on rotating turntables. The vacuum chamber is provided with an RF sputtering system and a DC magnetron sputtering system. A gas inlet is provided in the chamber for the introduction of various gases to the vacuum chamber and the creation of various gas plasma during the sputtering steps.

Routh, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Electron beam charging and arc discharging of spacecraft insulating materials

Samples of Mylar and Teflon film were exposed to combinations of monoenergetic electron and lithium ion fluxes in various ratios. The samples' discharge rates and strengths were found to diminish as the ion proportion increased. Various types of capacitors were exposed in air to beta irradiation from a 100 mCie Strontium-90 radioisotope source located at distances ranging from 2 cm to 5 cm from the capacitors. In these preliminary experiments, no evidence of spontaneous electrical breakdown was noted, nor was any change in RF impedance detectable using the available instrumentation. A decrease in DC resistance was noted, apparently due to radiation-induced conductivity. A cylindrical glass vacuum chamber is being assembled. Its inside dimensions are 44 cm diameter by 100 cm length. All necessary associated components and instruments have been acquired, including electron and ion guns, Trek surface potential probe and turbo-molecular pump. A mass-spectrometer detector for leaks and evolved gases will be ordered shortly.

Balmain, K. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Oxidation-resistant reflective surfaces for solar dynamic power generation in near Earth orbit

Reflective surfaces for space station power generation systems are required to withstand the atomic oxygen-dominated environment of near Earth orbit. Thin films of platinum and rhodium, which are corrosion resistant reflective metals, have been deposited by ion beam sputter deposition onto various substrate materials. Solar reflectances were then measured as a function of time of exposure to a RF-generated air plasma. Similarly, various protective coating materials, including MgF2, SiO2, Al2O3, and Si3N4, were deposited onto silver-coated substrates and then exposed to the plasma. Analysis of the films both before and after exposure by both ESCA and Auger spectroscopy was also performed. The results indicate that Pt and Rh do not suffer any loss in reflectance over the duration of the tests. Also, each of the coating materials survived the plasma environment. The ESCA and Auger analyses are discussed as well.

Gulino, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Oxidation-resistant reflective surfaces for solar dynamic power generation in near earth orbit

Reflective surfaces for Space Station power generation systems are required to withstand the atomic oxygen-dominated environment of near earth orbit. Thin films of platinum and rhodium, which are corrosion resistant reflective metals, have been deposited by ion beam sputter deposition onto various substrate materials. Solar reflectances were then measured as a function of time of exposure to a RF-generated air plasma.

Gulino, Daniel A.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Permittivity Measurement System Using Stripline Method for the Europa Clipper Mission

High radiation Jovian environment can deposit electrons in highly resistive dielectric materials, which could result in internal electrostatic discharge (IESD) causing damage to sensitive electronics such as the radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-Surface (REASON) instrument on NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. Special dielectric materials like static dissipative Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) ESD are under consideration for the Europa Clipper mission. PEEK loaded with carbon nanofibers improves the ESD performance for this material but the RF characteristics are unknown. We have developed a method to characterize the dielectric constant of a material as a function of frequency and temperature down to 30K. We present the measurement results of four samples of ESD. The measured data shows the permittivity of TECAPEEK ESD 11 is in the range of 7 to 10 at HF and in the range of 6.8 to 8.3 for VHF frequencies. The change in permittivity of ESD 11 down to 30 K is less than 7% at HF and less than 3% at VHF frequency. The sample to sample variability can be attributed to the inhomogeneity of the material.

Decrossas, Emmanuel↗
NASA NTRS1997

Using Superconducting Thin Films in Microwave Lines

High temperature superconductors(HTS) and microwaves devices form the ideal partnership. The application of superconductors in microwave devices, components and systems allows the reduction in size, power consumption and insertion loss. The surface resistance of high-Tc superconductors has been found to be two orders of magnitude lower than normal conducting copper materials. The reduction in size and power requirements, which together both lead to a reduction in system mass, coupled with reasonably accessible operating temperatures, suggest that HTS microwave components should find ready application in satellite communications systems. At present, multi- channeling communication networks demand filters with narrow bandwidth in order to allow the available RF frequency spectrum to be partitioned into small frequency bands, -and possible variation of dielectric constant from substrate to substrate is undesirable. Microwave multiplexers demand the fabrication of two identical filters in each channel. Thus, the filter with tuning function is preferable. Tunable filters are the critical component for phased array antennas in order to electronically steer the radiated beam. To fabricate a tunable filter that uses an electric field for operation, one would like a material that provides a large change on dielectric constant for a given electric field, yet has a relatively low tangent in order to minimize the insertion loss of the device. Ferroelectrics have been the materials of choice. Their large dielectric constant sufficiently increases the coupling between microwave resonators and its dependence on electric field provides timability. Development of technology promises to diminish tangent loss. The use of thin ferroelectric films sufficiently decreases insertion losses keeping considerable potential for applications. NASA Lewis Research Center is the one of the leading centers in investigation of superconductors/ferroelectric tunable components for microwave devices. A large number of possible microwave devices were fabricated and tested on the basis of thin film multilayer superconductor-ferroelectric structures. In major cases the systems with edge-coupling scheme were investigated. Dr. Genkin has recently focused on the new potentialities which implements the using of thin ferroelectric films in filters fabricated with end-coupled microstrip lines. Numerical modeling shows that these systems have large potential for application in tunable narrow- and wide-bandpass filters in the frequency range 10-20 GHz. The phase shifter with end-coupled resonant sections was fabricated and tested. Experimental results show large tunability, particular in low voltages. The possible optimization of this structure promises to improve the obtained result and to reach the low level of insertion losses.

Genkin, Varery↗
NASA NTRS1997

Design Guidelines for Shielding Effectiveness, Current Carrying Capability, and the Enhancement of Conductivity of Composite Materials

These guidelines address the electrical properties of composite materials which may have an effect on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). The main topics of the guidelines include the electrical shielding, fault current return, and lightning protection capabilities of graphite reinforced polymers, since they are somewhat conductive but may require enhancement to be adequate for EMC purposes. Shielding effectiveness depends heavily upon the conductivity of the material. Graphite epoxy can provide useful shielding against RF signals, but it is approximately 1,000 times more resistive than good conductive metals. The reduced shielding effectiveness is significant but is still useful in many cases. The primary concern is with gaps and seams in the material just as it is with metal. Current carrying capability of graphite epoxy is adequate for dissipation static charges, but fault currents through graphite epoxy may cause fire at the shorting contact and at joints. The effect of lightning on selected graphite epoxy material and mating surfaces is described, and protection methods are reviewed.

Evans, R. W.↗