Space Zoo Patrol – Future Space Materials

By   CHASM Advanced Materials, Inc. (Paul Ferguson) 

 

  1. What is the name of the technology? 

 Carbon Nanotubes

  1. What does it do?

Carbon Nanotubes are tiny, tiny particles that can have a huge impact when they are added to other materials.  For example, Carbon Nanotubes are incredibly strong and are used to make other materials stronger but also lighter at the same time, which is very important for space travel.  One of the fastest growing uses of Carbon Nanotubes today is for batteries.  Using advanced materials like Carbon Nanotubes can enable the batteries to store more power and to increase the number of times that they can be recharged.  Batteries are a critical component for space travel, so it’s important to continue making better batteries that are more powerful, last longer, and are safer.

  1. How does it work?

Many of the benefits that we get from Carbon Nanotubes come from their size, shape, and carbon, the material from which they are made.  Imagine a piece of cooked spaghetti.  Now imagine a piece of cooked spaghetti that is as long as a football field.  That’s roughly the scale of the difference between their length and their diameter.  Because they are made of carbon, Carbon Nanotubes are electrically conductive and you can think of them like wires that help electricity speed around from one side of the battery to the other as it either charges or discharges.

  1. How is it better than the older technology?

Carbon Nanotubes are being used today in batteries as a replacement for Carbon Black.  The Nanotubes are an improvement over Carbon Black because you don’t need to use as much material to get the same, or better, performance.  For space travel, batteries that are lighter are really important, so any materials that can help reduce weight are an improvement.

  1. What classes should I take in school to work on this?

Many people who work in nanotechnology start by studying Chemical Engineering in school.  If you want to design the next generation of Carbon Nanotube or perhaps an exotic Carbon Nanotube Hybrid, then Chemical Engineering is a great avenue for you.  If you are interested in using Carbon Nanotubes to make better products, then other areas of study such as electrical engineering or mechanical engineering may be better options.

  1. Pictures
Future Space Materials 1

Image of multi-wall carbon nanotubes taken with an Electron Microscope

Future Space Materials 2

Electron Microscope image of a multi-wall carbon nanotube – graphite hybrid particle

Future Space Materials 3

Image of a compound made with Carbon Nanotubes

Future Space Materials 4

Image of a reactor that is used to manufacture multi-wall carbon nanotubes

  1. Links

 CHASM Advanced Materials website: http://www.chasmtek.com