Monday, July 10, 2023

Graphene light propulsion concept now proven experimentally

 Light-induced propulsion of graphene-on-grid sails in microgravity is cited 10 times in googlescholar. "The metasurface is composed of tapered silver cells embedded on top of the graphene layer with 20 layers of graphene sheets. Hence, the transferred momentum to the metasurface can be controlled by tuning the Fermi level of graphene sheets. Our results can provide a suitable platform for optical force control desired in tunable radiation pressure harvesting, micro vehicles, solar sailing, and optical tweezers." 

 
 "The authors demonstrated that properly assembled graphene sheets can produce the efficient light-induced emission of electrons ejected following an Auger-like path, and that the net momentum generated by this process can propel the bulk graphene material according to Newton’s laws of motion. The major breakthrough of this research was that the newly designed bulk graphene material maintained efficient light absorption, the easily achievable reverse saturation state, and the unique hot-electron relaxing mechanisms typical of single-layer graphene. This exciting finding pushed the research of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology towards the fabrication of graphene structures emitting energetic electrons under light illumination and therefore those that were suitable for use in spacecraft propulsion."

Zhang, T.; Chang, H.; Wu, Y.; Xiao, P.; Yi, N.; Lu, Y.; Ma, Y.; Huang, Y.; Zhao, K.; Yan, X.-Q.; et al. Macroscopic and direct light propulsion of bulk graphene material. Nat. Photon 2015, 9, 471–476. 

 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-018-0280-7

 

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