Securing crystal feedstock for deployment in zero gravity growth furnaces to manufacturing satellites

A device configured to secure crystal growth feedstock in a crystal growth furnace, the device comprising:

• an expandible sample chamber comprising a flexible enclosure material, wherein when the expandible sample chamber is in a first configuration the expandible sample chamber is expanded to a maximum internal volume, and wherein when the expandible sample chamber is in a second configuration the expandible sample chamber is collapsed to a minimum internal volume;
• a crystallization zone configured to retain a volume of crystal growth feedstock;
• and
• a plurality of movable securing members, respective movable securing members of the plurality of movable securing members comprising a distal portion configured to be disposed against an outside surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock when the plurality of movable securing members are in a secured configuration and configured to be positioned a non-zero distance from the outside surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock when the plurality of movable securing members are in an extended configuration.

A device configured to secure crystal growth feedstock in a crystal growth furnace, the device comprising:

• a crystallization zone configured to retain a volume of crystal growth feedstock;
• and
• one or more inflatable securing members,
• wherein the one or more inflatable securing members are configured, when in a deflated configuration, such that an outer surface of the one or more inflatable securing members are maintained a non-zero distance from an outer surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock in the crystallization zone, and
• wherein the one or more inflatable securing members are configured, when in an inflated configuration, to be inflated such that at least a portion of the outer surface of the one or more inflatable securing members abut at least a portion of the outer surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock.

A device configured to secure crystal growth feedstock in a crystal growth furnace, the device comprising:

• an expandible sample chamber comprising a flexible enclosure material and defining a collapsed volume within the flexible enclosure material;
• a plurality of feedstock retention points within the expandible sample chamber, the plurality of feedstock retention points defining a crystal growth region;
• one or more seed crystals disposed within the expandible sample chamber, at least one of the seed crystals being located at a feedstock retention point;
• a thermocouple configured to communicate heat to one or more portions of the crystal growth region within the expandable sample chamber;
• and
• a plurality of movable securing members configured to retain a volume of a solid or semi-solid feedstock within the crystal growth region of the expandible sample chamber.

A crystal growth furnace comprising:

• an expandible sample container configured to be heated to between about 200° C. and about 6,000° C. to facilitate crystal growth from a volume of a crystal growth feedstock, wherein the expandible sample container is configured to be in a contracted configuration before and during transportation of the crystal growth furnace into a zero-gravity environment, the expandible sample container being further configured to transition from the contracted configuration to an expanded configuration once the crystal growth furnace is in the zero gravity environment and before the crystal growth;
• a crystal growth feedstock chamber positioned within the expandible sample container and configured to receive the volume of the crystal growth feedstock;
• and
• a plurality of feedstock securing members configured to secure the volume of the crystal growth feedstock within the crystal growth feedstock chamber when positioned in a securing configuration during transportation of the crystal growth furnace into the zero gravity environment, the plurality of feedstock securing members being further configured to transition from the securing configuration to a released configuration once the crystal growth furnace is in the zero gravity environment and before crystal growth.

A method comprising:

• disposing a volume of a crystal growth feedstock into a crystallization zone within an expandable sample chamber within a crystal growth furnace, the crystal growth furnace comprising a plurality of feedstock securing members being positioned in an open configuration, the expandable sample chamber being in an expanded configuration;
• transitioning the plurality of feedstock securing members from the open configuration to a closed configuration such that at least a distal portion of each of the plurality of feedstock securing members is releasably disposed against an outside surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock such that the volume of the crystal growth feedstock is securely retained within the crystallization zone of the crystal growth furnace;
• and
• transitioning the expandable sample chamber from the expanded configuration to an unexpanded configuration.

A method comprising:

• communicating a volume of a crystal growth feedstock into a crystallization zone within an expandible sample container of a crystal growth furnace while the expandible sample container is in an expanded configuration;
• transitioning a plurality of feedstock securing members from a released configuration, in which a distal portion of each of the plurality of feedstock securing members are maintained a non-zero distance above an outside surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock, to a securing configuration, in which a distal portion of each of the plurality of feedstock securing members are maintained in securing contact with the outside surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock such that the volume of the crystal growth feedstock is retained within the crystallization zone within the expandible sample container of the crystal growth furnace during transportation of the crystal growth furnace into a zero-gravity environment;
• and
• transitioning the expandible sample container from the expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration before transportation of the crystal growth furnace into the zero-gravity environment.

A method comprising:

• providing a crystal growth furnace comprising an expandible sample container in a collapsed configuration, the crystal growth furnace comprising a crystallization zone, and a volume of a crystal growth feedstock positioned within the crystallization zone, the crystal growth furnace further comprising a plurality of feedstock securing members positioned about the crystal growth feedstock in an inner volume of the expandible sample container and configured, in a securing configuration in which a distal portion of respective of the plurality of feedstock securing members are in securing contact with an outside surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock, to retain the volume of the crystal growth feedstock within the crystallization zone of the crystal growth furnace before and during transportation of the crystal growth furnace into a zero-gravity environment;
• transitioning the expandible sample container from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration;
• transitioning the plurality of feedstock securing members from the securing configuration to a released configuration in which the distal portion of respective of the plurality of feedstock securing members are maintained a non-zero distance above the outside surface of the volume of the crystal growth feedstock;
• heating at least a portion of the crystallization zone to form a hot zone within the volume of the crystal growth feedstock;
• while maintaining a temperature in the hot zone within a predetermined temperature range, allowing deposition of the crystal growth feedstock onto one or more seed crystals positioned within the crystallization zone of the crystal growth feedstock;
• and
• allowing the crystallization zone to cool to a temperature below the predetermined temperature range to allow for formation of a monocrystalline structure from the crystal growth feedstock.