Method for the discovery and design of new materials without the gravitational force

A method of identifying a predicted material formulation that is stable in a reduced-gravity environment, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a computing device, experimental data regarding a plurality of material samples from a non-contact suspension system or from an external data source;
• processing the experimental data, using the computing device, to determine one or more thermal, mechanical, optical, or structural properties associated with each of the plurality of material samples in a modified-gravity environment;
• determining an impact of gravitational force on one or more of a material formulation stability, structure, properties, performance, or manufacturing processing;
• and
• optimizing a manufacturing process or defining a new process for fabricating a material formulation with desired properties in a modified-gravity environment.

A non-contact suspension system comprising:

• a lower electrode in a chamber;
• an upper electrode opposite the lower electrode in the chamber, wherein an electric field is configured to be generated between the upper and lower electrodes;
• two or more auxiliary electrodes located in a horizontal plane between the upper and lower electrodes, wherein the two or more auxiliary electrodes are configured to control a position of a material sample in the electric field;
• a charge source configured to charge the material sample so that the material sample is levitated in the electric field between the upper and lower electrodes;
• a plurality of lasers for heating the material sample;
• and
• a camera for capturing image data of the material sample.