{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":89773,"title":"LENA Conversion Foils Using Single-Layer Graphene","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10741,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10740,"level":3,"code":"TX08.1.1","title":"Detectors and Focal Planes","definition":"Detectors, focal planes and readout integrated circuits provide large-format array technologies that require high quantum efficiency (QE); low noise, high resolution, uniform, and stable response; low power and cost; and high reliability. These technologies include low-noise, high-speed, low-power and radiation hardened readout integrated circuit (ROIC) electronics; superconducting sensors; spectral detectors; polarization-sensitive detectors; radiation-hardened detectors; and micro-Kelvin and sub-Kelvin high sensitivity detectors that cover the spectrum from submillimeter wave (Far-IR) to X-ray.","exampleTechnologies":"Backshort Undergrid bolometer arrays, Mercury Cadmium Telluride and Strained Superlattice Arrays, charge coupled devices, sidecar readout integrated circuits, radiometric calibration and abnormality correction algorithms (e.g. non-uniformity)","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"LENA conversion surfaces for a variety of instrument energy ranges and imaging applications. -EUV band filters with superior blocking/passband characteristics -Electron transparent membranes which can separate space environments from instruments. -Ultrafine metal grids for electrostatic acceleration and detection. -Visible-light transparent contamination blocking filters (CBFs) for cooled detectors in spacecraft.
Electron microscope specimen supports -EUV transmission elements and bandpass filters for EUV light sources -Strip foils for DOE facilities -Particle shields for semiconductor EUV lithography equipment. -Photocathode substrates for low energy X-ray imaging. -Ultralow mass density carbon foils for 3-dimensional bioimage reconstruction Luxel currently supplies components for all of the above applications. Future applications include graphene bolometers, other membrane sensors, and infrared bandpass filters.","description":"Our key innovation will be the use of single-layer graphene as LENA conversion foils, with appropriate microgrids and nanogrids to support the foils. Phase I develops a way to make the freestanding foils with usable size and perfection, and investigates added features such as EUV blocking. Phase II will make modifications to the graphene foil itself as needed for specific types of missions. For example, the existing graphene may be suitable in cases where incident LENA flux is high and the energy range of the instrument is high. Modified graphene may be necessary to increase conversion efficiency for converting to particular species, such as H+ or O-. In our proposal, we have fabricated small graphene coupons using existing methods, and shown these to optically consist of a carbon monolayer. The single-layer graphene mass density is 10X lower than conventional amorphous carbon foils. The Phase I activities build on this demonstration, and advances the TRL from the present TRL3 to TRL4. Phase I also comprises modeling and analysis in preparation for Phase II, which is expected to begin at TRL4 and end at TRL6.","startYear":2016,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2016,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":55873,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Bruce","lastName":"Lairson","fullName":"Bruce Lairson","fullNameInverted":"Lairson, Bruce","primaryEmail":"Bruce.Lairson@Luxel.Com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":3250882,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Marcello","lastName":"Rodriguez","fullName":"Marcello Rodriguez","fullNameInverted":"Rodriguez, Marcello","primaryEmail":"marcello.rodriguez-1@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":298362,"fileName":"SBIR_2016_1_BC_S1.05-8269","fileSize":72388,"objectId":294896,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"70.7 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":298362,"fileName":"SBIR_2016_1_BC_S1.05-8269","fileSize":72388,"objectId":294896,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"70.7 KB"}],"id":294896,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"LENA Conversion Foils Using Single-Layer Graphene, Phase I Briefing 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out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"December 2016"},{"transitionId":67272,"projectId":89773,"partner":"Other","transitionDate":"2017-04-01","path":"Advanced To","relatedProjectId":93592,"relatedProject":{"acronym":"","projectId":93592,"title":"LENA Conversion Foils Using Single-Layer Graphene","startTrl":3,"currentTrl":5,"endTrl":5,"benefits":"Neutral atom detector foils and particle detector foils The graphene foils we report in Phase I have excellent energy resolution and low energy signal compared with existing foils.We have shown prototype grids which appear suitable for supporting bilayer graphene in an instrument-usable configuration. Graphene antistatic and emissive coatings on particle beam and EUV filters Present antistatic coatings and contamination blocking filter coatings are made from >5nm thick amorphous carbon. Graphene has higher conductivity than amorphous carbon, but is only 0.3nm thick. This represents a considerable improvement in electron scattering cross section, thermal emissivity, and mass density. Nanohole arrays for EUV filters Presently the wavelength range 50-120nm has no viable narrow-band filter. Imaging of EUV spectral lines needs wavelength-selectable bandpass filters. Availability of solar-blind bandpass EUV filters will enable imaging of, for instance, elemental plasma processes in planetary atmospheres. Miscellaneous Instrument Graphene Foils Cooled instruments require a membrane to separate environmental contaminants without otherwise affecting detection or beam optics. For example, cryodetectors, such as X-ray microcalorimeters, require contamination blocking elements to prevent UHV or spacecraft contaminants from adsorbing onto the detector and causing soft X-ray opacity. Currently, these barrier foils are 50nm-100nm thick.
Nanohole arrays for EUV filters and High-Harmonic-Laser Order Selectors Presently the wavelength range 50-120nm has no viable transmission filters except for broad-band elemental In and Sn foils. Detection of spectral lines, and generation of laser lines, needs wavelength-selectable bandpass filters in this wavelength range. Synchrotrons and Free-electron lasers rely on the elemental properties of foils for harmonic rejection, greatly limiting the utility of synchrotrons in the 50-120nm wavelength range. The proposed nanohole arrays can improve the selectability and performance of spectral filters in this range of wavelengths. Miscellaneous Instrument Graphene Foils Instruments such as X-ray microcalorimeters and electron beam systems, require a membrane to separate environmental contaminants without otherwise affecting detection or beam optics. For example, cryogenic detectors, such as X-ray microcalorimeters, require contamination blocking elements to prevent UHV or spacecraft background contaminants from adsorbing onto the detector and causing soft X-ray opacity. Currently, these barrier foils are 50nm-100nm in thickness, and are highly absorbing for X-rays <300eV. Graphene is a promising low mass contamination barrier, since is less than 1nm thick.","description":"Implementing graphene foils in existing neutral atom detector designs will increase their angular and energy resolution, and also improve their mass discrimination and usable energy range. Graphene atomic uniformity and low mass density offer natural advantages over amorphous carbon foils in time-of-flight instruments. We expect that Phase II will yield flight-ready prototype foils available for rocket or pathfinder missions with substantial improvements in instrument performance. Graphene foils can also enable improved designs, for instance with lower mass or lower power consumption. Graphene is potentially useful in very low energy neutral atom detection, e.g. E4cm2) -SLG on nanohole arrays with hole coverage of >99% -a method for attaching single-layer graphene to mesh without adhesive -bilayer graphene membranes with >95% coverage on commercial mesh -Lyman alpha blocking of 99.8% using aluminum nanohole arrays Our Phase II effort will continue to improve microgrids, nanogrids and graphene for LENA detectors. In particular, we will 1. Fabricate bilayer graphene (BLG) on microgrids as a better-performing foil for existing LENA instrument designs. 2. Fabricate pristine SLG on nanogrids, extending TOF detectors to <200eV. 3. Investigate surface modification of graphene to enable detection of <10eV neutral atoms. 4. Make prototype samples for other NASA and non-NASA applications. Compared with existing foils, our proposed SLG structure reduces scattering, improves low energy signal, and improves energy resolution. The structure reduces the serial losses and increases the effective collection area.","startYear":2017,"startMonth":4,"endYear":2019,"endMonth":4,"statusDescription":"Completed","website":"","program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":38,"endDateString":"Apr 2019","startDateString":"Apr 2017"},"infoText":"Advanced within the program","infoTextExtra":"Another project within the program (LENA Conversion Foils Using Single-Layer Graphene)","dateText":"April 2017"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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