Femtosecond Laser Functionalized Surfaces for Cryogenic Fluid Management

NASA’s Artemis program is focused on returning astronauts to the Moon and paving the way for human missions to Mars. To support this program and related space exploration, NASA relies on cryogenic propulsion systems and associated technologies, including those involved in storing, transferring, and controlling the pressure of cryogenic fluids. Collectively, these technologies are referred to as Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM). The need to advance CFM technology has been accelerated with the launch of the Artemis program, which will use liquid oxygen and liquid methane as propellants. Propellant management devices (PMDs), specifically liquid acquisition devices (LADs), are critical to the function of fuel and storage tanks in microgravity. LADs are structures within the tanks that direct fluid to the output. In microgravity, surface tension is the most significant driver of fluid behavior, as opposed to the gravity field on a planet. Therefore, in microgravity, the wetting property of a surface—that is, the ability of a liquid to maintain contact with a solid surface—becomes an important factor in controlling the location and flow of fluids in fuel and storage tanks. LADs can be improved by altering the wetting properties of the LAD surfaces to attract fluids (supercryophilic) and by ensuring that surfaces in other parts of the tank repel fluids (cryophobic). The Center for Electro-optics and Functionalized Surfaces (CEFS), co-Directed by Dr. Craig Zuhlke (Sc-I) and Dr. George Gogos (Co-I) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), has developed techniques to tailor the surface properties of materials using femtosecond laser surface processing (FLSP). With FLSP, the properties of materials are altered by creating self-organized micro- and nano-scale surface structures combined with surface and subsurface chemical and microstructure changes using finely controlled ultra-short light-matter interactions. In short, FLSP directly modifies the original material. This results in a durable surface that can withstand high and low temperatures and is suitable for use in demanding environments, including space. FLSP is superior to paints or coatings because it directly alters the metallic surface micro-layer, which, therefore, will not delaminate over time. Furthermore, with FLSP, surface properties are modified without the added weight, hazard of toxicity, and long curing time associated with many coatings. Using FLSP to control the wetting properties of surfaces with respect to cryogenic fluids has the potential to drastically improve CFM. CEFS has conducted extensive research on using FLSP to alter the wetting properties of metallic surfaces. Propellant tanks are typically made of aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium, all of which have been successfully functionalized with FLSP to become superhydrophilic or superhydrophobic. However, research has not been conducted on the interaction of cryogenic fluids with FLSP surfaces. Furthermore, FLSP has not been applied to composite materials, which are being developed for use in cryogenic fuel and storage tanks. We propose to develop FLSP techniques to alter the wetting properties of metal and composite tank materials with respect to cryogenic fluids. Creating cryophobic surfaces is expected to be more difficult than cryophilic surfaces and will require advanced control of micro- and nano-structures and surface chemistry. To conduct the research, we have assembled a multidisciplinary team with a history of collaboration and expertise in the areas of femtosecond laser-matter interactions for surface functionalization, fluid mechanics, materials science, and surface chemistry. CEFS has established collaborations with NASA scientists with seed funding in this research area and has provided them with initial FLSP-modified samples for testing. However, there is a need for a multi-year dedicated effort to develop surfaces that will enable NASA to reach its space exploration goals.

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