NASA LogoNTRSNTRS - NASA Technical Reports ServerSearchmore_vertCollectionsAboutNewsHelpLogin Back to ResultsMicrogravity Processing and Photonic Applications of Organic and Polymeric MaterialsSome of the primary purposes of this work are to study important technologies, particularly involving thin films, relevant to organic and polymeric materials for improving applicability to optical circuitry and devices and to assess the contribution of convection on film quality in unit and microgravity environments. Among the most important materials processing techniques of interest in this work are solution-based and by physical vapor transport, both having proven gravitational and acceleration dependence. In particular, PolyDiAcetylenes (PDA's) and PhthaloCyanines (Pc's) are excellent NonLinear Optical (NLO) materials with the promise of significantly improved NLO properties through order and film quality enhancements possible through microgravity processing. Our approach is to focus research on integrated optical circuits and optoelectronic devices relevant to solution-based and vapor processes of interest in the Space Sciences Laboratory at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Modification of organic materials is an important aspect of achieving more highly ordered structures in conjunction with microgravity processing. Parallel activities include characterization of materials for particular NLO properties and determination of appropriation device designs consistent with selected applications. One result of this work is the determination, theoretically, that buoyancy-driven convection occurs at low pressures in an ideal gas in a thermalgradient from source to sink. Subsequent experiment supports the theory. We have also determined theoretically that buoyancy-driven convection occurs during photodeposition of PDA, an MSFC-patented process for fabricating complex circuits, which is also supported by experiment. Finally, the discovery of intrinsic optical bistability in metal-free Pc films enables the possibility of the development of logic gate technology on the basis of these materials.Document ID19970014720Acquisition SourceMarshall Space Flight CenterDocument TypeTechnical Memorandum (TM)AuthorsFrazier, Donald O.*(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)*Paley, Mark S.*(Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL United States)*Penn, Benjamin G.*(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)*Abdeldayem, Hossin A.*(Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL United States)*Smith, David D.*(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)*Witherow, William K.*(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)*Date AcquiredSeptember 6, 2013Publication DateMarch 1, 1997Subject CategoryMaterials ProcessingReport/Patent NumberNAS 1.15:108533Project 95-26NASA-TM-108533Accession Number97N18034Distribution LimitsPublicCopyrightWork of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.Available DownloadsNameType19970014720.pdfSTIcloud_downloadcontent_copyvisibilityRelated RecordsThere are no records associated with this record.visibility_offNo Preview Available
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