Novel method relies on graphene-metal metastructures to improve micropropulsion systems
Pulsed laser micropropulsion (PLMP) offers a promising avenue for miniature spacecraft, yet conventional propellants face challenges in balancing efficiency and stability. Researchers from Wuhan University, Henan Academy of Sciences and Purdue University have proposed an optical-propulsion metastructure strategy using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to generate graphene-metal metastructures (GMM), which significantly enhances PLMP performance.
A) Illustration of PLMP mechanism and the possible applications of MOFs-derived GMM-based PLMP. B) Preparation schematic of GMM. Image from: Advanced Materials
MOFs, which consist of metal cations or clusters coordinated with organic ligands, can serve as ideal precursors for creating hybrid structures that combine the benefits of both carbon and metal components. By employing ultrafast laser interactions with MOFs, researchers have been able to synthesize GMMs with precisely controlled metal nanoparticle sizes, graphene layers, and inter-particle gaps, all in an ambient air environment. These GMMs exhibit remarkable properties, including high light absorption efficiency, enhanced energy transfer, and improved material stability.