This contribution describes the fabrication, function and performance of thin‐film variable emittance electrochromic skins fabricated using poly(aniline) as the conducting polymer (CP), a long‐chain polymeric dopant, and an ionic liquid as electrolyte. The ionic electrolyte allows operation in space vacuum without any seals. A unique, space‐durable coating applied to the external surface of the skins drastically lowers the solar absorptance of the skins, such that in their dark (highly emissive) electrochromic state, it is no more than 0.44, whilst in their light electrochromic state, it is ca. 0.3. Data presented show tailorable, variations from 0.19 to 0.90, and nearly indefinite cyclability. Extended thermal vacuum, atomic‐O, micrometeoroid, VUV and other studies show excellent space durability. Performance of a doughnut‐shaped skin designed for a specific micro‐spacecraft is also described.
High Performance Variable Emittance Devices for Spacecraft Application Based on Conducting Polymers Coupled with Ionic Liquids
SPACE, PROPULSION & ENERGY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL FORUM: SPESIF‐2009 ; 2009 ; Huntsville (Alabama)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 1103 , 1 ; 101-104
2009-03-16
4 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
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