Solid electrolyte-based microthrusters
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorWilliam C West
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Abstract
A microthruster system may include a substrate and a source film. The substrate may include a plurality of emitter tips, and a source film deposited on the substrate. The source film may include silver. The microthruster system may also include a solid electrolyte film, which may include chalcogenide film, deposited over the source film. The solid electrolyte film may cause ions of the source film to move to the plurality of emitter tips.
Claims22
An apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate with a plurality of emitter tips;
- a source film, comprising silver or copper, deposited on the substrate;
- and
- a solid electrolyte film, comprising chalcogenide film, deposited over the source film, wherein
- the solid electrolyte film causes silver or copper ions within the source film to move towards the plurality of emitter tips.
A microthruster system, comprising:
- an electrolyte film coated on a solid metal film to move metal ions to a plurality of tips in the microthruster system, wherein
- the electrolyte film coated on the solid metal film creates a covalently bonded chalcogenide electrolyte film.
A process for fabricating a microthruster system, comprising:
- depositing a solid metal film on a substrate of the microthruster system using thermal evaporation;
- depositing an electrolyte film on the solid metal film, wherein the depositing of the electrolyte film creates a covalently bonded chalcogenide electrolyte film to move metal ions within the solid metal film to a plurality of tips in the microthruster system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.