20-ISS 2020-0002, Electrokinetic Assembly of Stable Nanoparticle Haloing Suspensions

PROJECT SUMMARY (ABSTRACT) Kentucky's NASA EPSCoR jurisdiction solicited proposal responses from Kentucky university- led research teams to address the ISS flight opportunity listed in the FY2020 NASA EPSCoR International Space Station (ISS) Flight Opportunity announcement (NNH20ZHA002C). The NASA Kentucky EPSCoR program collaborated with responding faculty researchers to develop and submit a relevant proposal that will address NASA EPSCoR ISS objectives. The goal of this proposed work by the University of Louisville research team is to utilize the microgravity environment on the International Space Station (ISS) and self-assemble, using electric fields, a bimodal colloidal solution containing both microparticles and nanoparticles. More specifically, we want to prove that nanoparticles are present within the microparticle interparticle spacing when the latter assembles into crystalline-like packing. In collaboration with NASA’s Advanced Colloids Experiments (ACE) team, we will develop an automated platform for microscopic visualization and to apply the electric field to the colloidal samples. Our results can be applied towards the enhancement of quantum-dot synthesized solar cells (QDSS). Further, our work provides the foundation for future electrokinetic experiments by ACE (ACE-E). 1