Spacecraft Thermal Management Systems (STMS) · UC Irvine
Overview
Research project with the aim to create a variable emission device that would alter coloration electrochemically to thermally regulate in space. Worked as a test engineer for the gel electrolyte sub team, focused on manufacturing and testing a gel that would be rigid enough to survive the vacuum of space, yet fluid enough to allow charge transfer between the tungsten and copper plates. Broke major project barriers through quantifying gel conductivity and charge transfer via complete overhaul of testing procedure and analysis.
What I worked on
Synthesized a PMMA–lithium perchlorate gel electrolyte (in propylene carbonate) for the variable-emissivity device.
Built mock-up cells from FTO-coated glass, a spacer, the gel and copper current collectors for testing.
Redesigned the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) protocol after earlier data proved illegible, using new electrode configurations and parameters to produce clear, analyzable spectra.
Used the EIS data to quantify resistance, conductivity and charge transfer, and to guide gel formulation. The final 15 wt% gel measured about 43 Ω.
Applied Warburg element theory to gain more insight into diffusion within the gel.
Next steps
Outlined how the project can continue with nickel and tungsten plating.
Diagram of the assembled mock-up cell used for EIS testing: gel held between two FTO slides by a spacer, with copper current collectors at the ends.
