Multifunctional Nanostructures with Controllable Band Gap Giving Highly Stable Infrared Emissivity for Smart Thermal Management

Thermal control is essential to guarantee the optimal performance of most advanced electronic devices or systems. In space, orbital satellites face the issues of h i g h thermal gradients, heating, and different thermal loads mediated by differential illumination from the Sun. Today's state-of-the-art thermal control systems provide protection; however, they are bulky and restrict the mass and power budgets for payloads. Here, we develop a lightweight optical superlattice nanobarrier structure to provide a smart thermal control solution. The structure consists of a moisture and outgassing physical barrier (MOB) coupled with atomic oxygen (AO)-UV protection functiona l i t y . The nanobarrier exhibits transmission and reflection of light by controlling the optical gap of individual layers to enable high infrared emissivity and variable solar absorptivity (minimum Delta alpha(S) = 0.30) across other wavelengths . The multifunctional coating can be applied to heat-sensitive substrates by means of a bespoke room-temperature process. We demonstrate enhanced stability , energy-harvesting capability, and power savings by facilitating the radiation cooling and facility for active self-reconfiguration in orbi t . In this way, the reduction of the operating temperature from similar to 120 to similar to 60 degrees C on space-qualified and nonmechanically controlled composite structures is also demonstrated

Automated summary

Thermal control is crucial for advanced electronic devices or systems.The development of a lightweight optical superlattice nanobarrier structure provides a smart thermal control solution. The nanobarrier exhibits high infrared emissivity and variable solar absorptivity by controlling the optical gap of individual layers. It demonstrates enhanced stability, energy-harvesting capability, and power savings in orbit.