ISS Science for Everyone
SCIENCE OBJECTIVES FOR EVERYONE
The Production of High Performance Nanomaterials in Microgravity (Nanoskeleton) investigation aims to clarify the effect of gravity on oil flotation, sedimentation and convection on crystals generated in microgravity.
SCIENCE RESULTS FOR EVERYONE
Tiny structures, big possibilities. Titanium Dioxide crystalline-based nanoskeletons -- nano means one-billionth or 10 to the -9 -- were created on the space station as part of an investigation to clarify how gravity affects oil flotation, sedimentation, and convection in crystals grown in microgravity. Some samples were infused with Tri-methylbenzene (TMB) oil to increase the size of pores in the crystalline structure. Samples from the space station appeared almost the same as those on Earth, but microgravity had a significant effect on the distance between pores on nanoskeletons prepared with the TMB oil. Those prepared without TMB oil had more uniform pores, which improved photo-catalytic activity.
Experiment Description
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
- The Nanoskeleton experiment is one of the microgravity experiments conducted for industrial application. Nanoskeleton is a coined word for new-functional nano-materials.
- The TiO2 Nanoskeleton is synthesized with a mixture of CTAB surfactant solution and TiOSO4-H2SO4 solution under isothermal conditions (40 degrees Celsius).
- Nanoskeleton will quantitatively investigate the effects of gravity during a chemical reaction process.
- Nanoskeleton uses oil (TMB) to enlarge the pore size of the honeycomb structure; therefore, this experiment will attempt to clarify the effects of gravity such as the flotation of oil and convective flow, by evaluating the retrieved samples.
- All of the experiment samples are retrieved and evaluated on the ground.
- Experiment data gathered on orbit consists of the temperature samples and images.
Applications
EARTH APPLICATIONS
The target of this research is to develop the new TiO2 photo catalyst. The experiment data will be inputted into the computational chemistry simulation for Nanoskeleton synthesis, and the simulation will be used for the prediction of the proper parameter for synthesis on the ground.
Publications
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S)
JAXA/ Tokyo University of Science
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