The multipactor effect has been a long-standing concern for the European Space Agency (ESA) for over 40 years. This phenomenon, an avalanche of electrons occurring in a vacuum inside components like antennas or waveguides, can lead to irreversible damage to satellite equipment. Historically, the go-to solution has been to coat these components with Alodine, a chromium-based compound that, while effective, poses health risks for handlers and is harmful to the environment. European authorities have been pushing for a ban on this substance, but no alternative has matched its technical performance—until now.
Lidia Martínez, a researcher at the Institute of Materials Science of Madrid (ICMM), highlights the need for a substitute that emits fewer secondary electrons, which are the culprits that trigger the chain reaction leading to multipactor failures. Past attempts have primarily focused on micrometric surface modifications, but they fell short of meeting the rigorous demands of the space industry. So, the ICMM team decided to change the game entirely. Instead of sticking to micrometric structures, they developed a rough surface on the nanometric scale—think billionths of a meter!
Using an ultra-high-vacuum technique called gas aggregation source, they produced gold and silver nanoparticles, each measuring between four and eight nanometers. The outcome? Porous, metallic, and chemically clean films that, according to ESA-accredited laboratory tests, reduce secondary electron emissions by approximately 30% compared to Alodine. Remarkably, the so-called cut-off energy threshold—the point at which the material begins to generate more electrons than it receives—improved by up to 300% in some configurations.
But wait, there’s more! The coatings underwent six-month aging tests and thermal treatments at 150°C, mimicking the conditions a satellite faces when basking in the Sun. While the performance did decline slightly over time, it still outperformed freshly applied Alodine. This groundbreaking technology is already covered by a joint European patent application filed with the European Patent Office in July 2025. A spin-off called Ostine, created by CSIC, is set to commercialize this coating, targeting the aerospace sector as its main clientele.
Despite the promising results, Martínez remains cautious about the timeline. Bringing a new coating into actual use in space typically demands around a decade of rigorous testing and validation. The ESA has expressed satisfaction with the proposed solution, but there are still several hurdles to clear before these revolutionary materials can soar alongside satellites.
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Kaynak: Orijinal Haber