Space-Grade Flexible Hybrid Electronics

The intersection of additive manufacturing and nanotechnology stands to transform the way NASA approaches its mission of advancing science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. The ability to manipulate matter at the nanoscale enables the bottom-up design of innovative nanomaterial based sensors, which benefit from unique properties such as high surface area to volume ratio and tunable transport processes. The ability to print nanomaterials using additive manufacturing techniques highlights a path towards the digital design and in-space manufacturing of mission specific sensors. Our vision is to leverage the unique physical properties of nanomaterials to create a new design paradigm for space-grade flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) sensor systems, and build a light, flexible, and self-sustaining multifunctional sensor in accordance with performance goals outlined in NASA’s Space Technology Roadmap. Printed carbon nanotubes, polymer brushes, chalcogenide glasses, and thermoelectric nanomaterials will be combined with flexible silicon integrated circuits and wireless communications hardware to create a flexible multifunctional sensor node capable of transmitting real-time sensing data for trace gas vapors and exposure to radiation. To ensure project success the PI and SI have composed a team of experts in nanomaterial design, synthesis, and characterization; as well as industry partner American Semiconductor, Inc. – a global leader in the manufacture of flexible silicon integrated circuits. Additional partnerships with Ames Research Center, Johnson Space Center, Marshall Flight Space Center, Air Force Research Laboratories, and PakSense/Emerson will help guide project progress towards NASA’s performance goals and translation of sensor technology into the defense and consumer electronics industries. Integrating our nanomaterials with advanced manufacturing techniques and flexible silicon integrated circuits extends impact, potentially serving the public by providing a low-cost path towards large-scale manufacturing of nanomaterial-based sensors for agricultural technologies, human health monitoring systems, and aerospace sensors, all connected through the internet of things. Positioned in the Pacific Northwest near global and regional industry leaders, the proposed work will establish the foundation required to build a nationally and internationally recognized center for flexible hybrid electronics technologies, thus significantly enhancing research capacity and competitiveness in the Idaho EPSCoR jurisdiction.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.