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Project Title:  Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature and Gradient Control (ACET11) Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2023 
Division: Physical Sciences 
Research Discipline/Element:
Physical Sciences: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Start Date: 09/01/2019  
End Date: 08/31/2024  
Task Last Updated: 09/03/2023 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Khusid, Boris  Ph.D. / New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Address:  Chemical & Materials Engineering 
University Heights 
Newark , NJ 07102-1982 
Email: khusid@njit.edu 
Phone: 973-596-3316  
Congressional District: 10 
Web:  
Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Chaikin, Paul  Ph.D. New York University 
Hollingsworth, Andrew  Ph.D. New York University 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: Co-PI: Paul M. Chaikin, Department of Physics, New York University, 726 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, Tel: (212) 998-7694, E-mail: chaikin@nyu.edu; Co-PI: Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Department of Physics, New York University, 726 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, Tel: (212) 998-8428; E-mail: andrewdh@nyu.edu.
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC19K1655 
Responsible Center: NASA GRC 
Grant Monitor: McQuillen, John  
Center Contact: 216-433-2876 
john.b.mcquillen@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 12703 
Solicitation / Funding Source: 2013 Complex Fluids & Macromolecular Biophysics NNH13ZTT001N 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC19K1655 
Project Type: FLIGHT 
Flight Program: ISS 
No. of Post Docs:
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:
No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Program--Element: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: ISS--Space X-19

NOTE: End date changed to 8/31/2024 per NSSC information (Ed., 9/2/23)

NOTE: End date changed to 8/31/2023 per NSSC information (Ed., 11/3/22)

NOTE: End date changed to 8/31/2022 per NSSC information (Ed., 12/10/21)

Task Description: NOTE 1/21/2020: Continuation of "Kinetics of Electric Field-Driven Phase Transitions in Polarized Colloids," grant NNX13AQ53G, with same Principal Investigator Dr. Boris Khusid.

Motivation: The widespread use of colloidal processes for scalable manufacturing of structured materials emphasizes a critical need for improving fundamental understanding of the role of external fields in directing non-equilibrium phenomena in suspensions. The challenge is due to kinetic limitations because the particles can be trapped into metastable configurations for a long time due to the lower mobility of multi-particle structures compared to that of individual particles. Microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study these phenomena by removing masking gravity effects, such as particle sedimentation, convection, and jamming. The proposed research addresses both fundamental and technological questions in the science of colloids aimed at understanding the equilibrium and metastable crystalline, liquid, and glassy structures and the use of these materials in additive manufacturing.

Objectives: Conduct tests in the International Space Station (ISS) Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE) facility to elucidate the mechanisms of non-equilibrium phenomena underlying the assembly of colloidal particles assisted by temperature field gradients and suggest novel routes for processing functional materials.

Methodology: A novel approach will be used to study mechanisms for formation of metastable and glassy phases in suspensions in the ISS and for comparison on Earth. A single sample will be exposed to a temperature gradient to cover the interesting range of particle densities. As the particle density is directly measured by microscopy, a priori knowledge of the gradient profile is not required. Experiments will involve setting up a temperature gradient to observe the resulting structures and then locally mix a region of known density to watch it glassify or crystallize. Quantitative data on the suspension rheology will come from microrheology measurements through tracking particle thermal motion.

Deliverables: Understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in colloids driven by temperature gradients and experimental database for the control and manipulation of colloidal structures in space and terrestrial applications.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: Research Overview

• Why is the research needed? New functional materials are created using micron-sized particles suspended in fluid (called colloids) that self-organize into crystalline structures or amorphous glass phases by means of entropic forces or under the control of non-equilibrium drive as supplied, for example, by temperature gradients. The ACE-T11 experiments in the ISS utilizes confocal 100 X microscopy for time- and space-resolved 3D imaging of the arrangement of spherical colloidal particles, and examines the influence of temperature gradients on the particle motion and arrangement (referred to as thermophoresis).

• What is accomplished? In ACE-T11, the phase behavior of micrometer-sized colloidal particles in long-duration microgravity is studied in the ISS on dense suspensions at volume fractions f~0.60-0.63. The particles are found to self-organize into face centered cubic (FCC) colloidal crystal of the capillary size (27 mm x 1.5 mm x 150 µm). It is the first confirmation of the theory for the phase behavior of hard spheres, the simplest model of matter with a crystallization transition. In contrast, colloidal crystals formed on Earth do not grow larger than several hundreds of micrometers due to gravitational settling.

• What is the impact of the research? Ultimately, the ability to design functional structures – based on micrometer-scale building blocks – with a variety of well-controlled three-dimensional bonding symmetries, amorphous structures and different rheologies will allow the development of new devices for chemical energy production and storage, photonics and communication, and a new set of slurries and pastes useful for additive manufacturing. Such materials might include photonic crystals with programmed distributions of defects. Optical technology utilizing such materials may offer intriguing solutions to unavoidable heat generation and bandwidth limitations facing the computer industry. New insights were gained in the ISS experiments on the formation of crystalline phases as distinct from the amorphous glass, a question raised by previous microgravity studies, as yet unresolved, whether glass phases found on Earth would readily crystallize in microgravity. In particular, it was revealed that molecular dynamics simulations of equilibrium work when gravitational effects are unimportant. They therefore can be used for simulations of materials processing in microgravity.

• Space Applications: Eventually, future space exploration may use self-assembly and self-replication to make materials and devices that can repair themselves. Self-assembly and evolutionarily-optimized functional units are key to long-duration space voyages. Even more immediate is the requirement of replacement parts and specialized repair facilities for space missions. 3D printing and additive manufacturing will be necessary for future space missions. The development of particle slurries and pastes with the appropriate rheological properties that work in both microgravity and conventional gravity will be needed. One objective of the experiments conducted in the ISS is to develop new materials that cannot be formed on Earth.

• Earth Applications: This investigation involves several fundamental and practical aspects of soft matter science with potential applications on Earth. Self-assembly processes are crucial to making functional materials and devices from small particles. Improved design and assembly of structures fabricated in microgravity may have use in a variety of fields from medicine to optoelectronics on Earth. Ultimately, the ability to design and build functional structures based on colloids will allow new devices for chemical energy, communication, and photonics, including photonic materials to control and manipulate light. The rapidly growing fields of 3D printing and additive manufacturing rely on the assembly and sintering of particle aggregates and the preparation of high-density slurries and pastes of different colloidal materials and with different rheological and mechanical properties is a main goal of these studies.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2023 
Task Progress: As reported earlier, the International Space Station (ISS) experiments conducted by the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and New York University (NYU) researchers in 2020-2021 revealed the ability to order micron-sized spherical particles in the face-centered cubic (FFC) lattice of the size of the capillary container (27 mm x 1.5 mm x 0.15 mm) in a long-duration microgravity environment. Micron-sized ellipsoidal particles were found to form the nematic phase on the ISS that is similar to the structure of molecular liquid crystals. Contrary to polycrystalline colloidal materials formed in terrestrial experiments, this large single colloidal crystal has a continuous, uniform, and highly-ordered structure. A three-dimensional colloidal crystal is the optical analogy to an atomic crystal lattice, in which the refractive index repeats periodically in three directions on the scale of the wavelength of light. This ordering leads to the Bragg diffraction from a colloidal crystal when the light is scattered in mirror-like reflection by the successive particle layers and undergoes constructive interference. The grating constant of the crystal can be varied by changing the size, refractive index, and volume fraction of colloidal particles. The use of micron-size colloidal particles enables fabrication of a three-dimensional Bragg grating for the mid-infrared spectral region of 2-20 µm that contains strong characteristic vibrational transitions of many important molecules, as well as two atmospheric transmission windows of 3-5 µm and 8-13 µm.

The NJIT and NYU researchers used the ISS experimental data for the development of a method for manufacturing a 3D colloidal crystals for infrared photonics in a low-Earth orbit (LEO). The method employs the major outcome of the ACET11 experiment that demonstrated that the equilibrium phase diagram of colloidal hard-spheres provides reliable design guidelines to form colloidal crystals in the long-duration microgravity environment. The invention disclosure was submitted to the NASA New Technical Reports Server, NTR ID 1658166792. The team also submitted a non-provisional patent application on the technology concept for manufacturing of 3D colloidal crystals for infrared photonics in an LEO and returning them to Earth:

Mary Murphy (Nanoracks, LLC), Qian Lei (NJIT), Boris Khusid (NJIT), Andrew D. Hollingsworth (NYU), Paul M. Chaikin (NYU), William V. Meyer (Universities Space Research Association). METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATION OF LARGE THREE-DIMENSIONAL SINGLE COLLOIDAL CRYSTALS FOR BRAGG DIFFRACTION OF INFRARED LIGHT, Nonprovisional Patent Application 18/192,833; 03/30/2023.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 09/17/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Patents 18/192833 Nonprovisional patent application. Mar-2023 Murphy M, Lei Q, Khusid B, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM, Meyer WV. "Method and Apparatus for Fabrication of Large Three-Dimensional Single Colloidal Crystals for Bragg Diffraction of Infrared Light."
Project Title:  Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature and Gradient Control (ACET11) Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2022 
Division: Physical Sciences 
Research Discipline/Element:
Physical Sciences: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Start Date: 09/01/2019  
End Date: 08/31/2022  
Task Last Updated: 06/13/2022 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Khusid, Boris  Ph.D. / New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Address:  Chemical & Materials Engineering 
University Heights 
Newark , NJ 07102-1982 
Email: khusid@njit.edu 
Phone: 973-596-3316  
Congressional District: 10 
Web:  
Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Chaikin, Paul  Ph.D. New York University 
Hollingsworth, Andrew  Ph.D. New York University 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: Co-PI: Paul M. Chaikin, Department of Physics, New York University, 726 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, Tel: (212) 998-7694, E-mail: chaikin@nyu.edu; Co-PI: Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Department of Physics, New York University, 726 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, Tel: (212) 998-8428; E-mail: andrewdh@nyu.edu.
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC19K1655 
Responsible Center: NASA GRC 
Grant Monitor: McQuillen, John  
Center Contact: 216-433-2876 
john.b.mcquillen@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 12703 
Solicitation / Funding Source: 2013 Complex Fluids & Macromolecular Biophysics NNH13ZTT001N 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC19K1655 
Project Type: FLIGHT 
Flight Program: ISS 
No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:
No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Program--Element: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: ISS--Space X-19

NOTE: End date changed to 8/31/2022 per NSSC information (Ed., 12/10/21)

Task Description: NOTE 1/21/2020: Continuation of "Kinetics of Electric Field-Driven Phase Transitions in Polarized Colloids," grant NNX13AQ53G, with same Principal Investigator Dr. Boris Khusid.

Motivation: The widespread use of colloidal processes for scalable manufacturing of structured materials emphasizes a critical need for improving fundamental understanding of the role of external fields in directing non-equilibrium phenomena in suspensions. The challenge is due to kinetic limitations because the particles can be trapped into metastable configurations for a long time due to the lower mobility of multi-particle structures compared to that of individual particles. Microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study these phenomena by removing masking gravity effects, such as particle sedimentation, convection, and jamming. The proposed research addresses both fundamental and technological questions in the science of colloids aimed at understanding the equilibrium and metastable crystalline, liquid, and glassy structures and the use of these materials in additive manufacturing.

Objectives: Conduct tests in the International Space Station (ISS) Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE) facility to elucidate the mechanisms of non-equilibrium phenomena underlying the assembly of colloidal particles assisted by temperature field gradients and suggest novel routes for processing functional materials.

Methodology: A novel approach will be used to study mechanisms for formation of metastable and glassy phases in suspensions in the ISS and for comparison on Earth. A single sample will be exposed to a temperature gradient to cover the interesting range of particle densities. As the particle density is directly measured by microscopy, a priori knowledge of the gradient profile is not required. Experiments will involve setting up a temperature gradient to observe the resulting structures and then locally mix a region of known density to watch it glassify or crystallize. Quantitative data on the suspension rheology will come from microrheology measurements through tracking particle thermal motion.

Deliverables: Understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in colloids driven by temperature gradients and experimental database for the control and manipulation of colloidal structures in space and terrestrial applications.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: Research Overview

• Why is the research needed? New functional materials are created using micron-sized particles suspended in fluid (called colloids) that self-organize into crystalline structures or amorphous glass phases by means of entropic forces or under the control of non-equilibrium drive as supplied, for example, by temperature gradients. The ACE-T11 experiments in the ISS utilizes confocal 100 X microscopy for time- and space-resolved 3D imaging of the arrangement of spherical colloidal particles, and examines the influence of temperature gradients on the particle motion and arrangement (referred to as thermophoresis).

• What is accomplished? In ACE-T11, the phase behavior of micrometer-sized colloidal particles in long-duration microgravity is studied in the ISS on dense suspensions at volume fractions f~0.60-0.63. The particles are found to self-organize into face centered cubic (FCC) colloidal crystal of the capillary size (27 mm x 1.5 mm x 150 µm). It is the first confirmation of the theory for the phase behavior of hard spheres, the simplest model of matter with a crystallization transition. In contrast, colloidal crystals formed on Earth do not grow larger than several hundreds of micrometers due to gravitational settling.

• What is the impact of the research? Ultimately, the ability to design functional structures – based on micrometer-scale building blocks – with a variety of well-controlled three-dimensional bonding symmetries, amorphous structures and different rheologies will allow the development of new devices for chemical energy production and storage, photonics and communication, and a new set of slurries and pastes useful for additive manufacturing. Such materials might include photonic crystals with programmed distributions of defects. Optical technology utilizing such materials may offer intriguing solutions to unavoidable heat generation and bandwidth limitations facing the computer industry. New insights were gained in the ISS experiments on the formation of crystalline phases as distinct from the amorphous glass, a question raised by previous microgravity studies, as yet unresolved, whether glass phases found on Earth would readily crystallize in microgravity. In particular, it was revealed that molecular dynamics simulations of equilibrium work when gravitational effects are unimportant. They therefore can be used for simulations of materials processing in microgravity.

• Space Applications: Eventually, future space exploration may use self-assembly and self-replication to make materials and devices that can repair themselves. Self-assembly and evolutionarily-optimized functional units are key to long-duration space voyages. Even more immediate is the requirement of replacement parts and specialized repair facilities for space missions. 3D printing and additive manufacturing will be necessary for future space missions. The development of particle slurries and pastes with the appropriate rheological properties that work in both microgravity and conventional gravity will be needed. One objective of the experiments conducted in the ISS is to develop new materials that cannot be formed on Earth.

• Earth Applications: This investigation involves several fundamental and practical aspects of soft matter science with potential applications on Earth. Self-assembly processes are crucial to making functional materials and devices from small particles. Improved design and assembly of structures fabricated in microgravity may have use in a variety of fields from medicine to optoelectronics on Earth. Ultimately, the ability to design and build functional structures based on colloids will allow new devices for chemical energy, communication, and photonics, including photonic materials to control and manipulate light. The rapidly growing fields of 3D printing and additive manufacturing rely on the assembly and sintering of particle aggregates and the preparation of high-density slurries and pastes of different colloidal materials and with different rheological and mechanical properties is a main goal of these studies.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2022 
Task Progress: The study was conducted within the scope of the originally proposed research plan. The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and New York University (NYU) researchers worked in closed collaboration with researchers from the NASA Glenn Research Center and engineering team from ZIN Technologies, OH to process and analyze confocal microscopy images of colloids collected in the International Space Station (ISS) experiments in 2020-2021. One exciting aspect of the microgravity experiments in the ISS is the realization that in microgravity we can build large colloidal photonic crystals with a three-dimensional ordered arrangement of particles that survive reentry to Earth. A three-dimensional photonic crystal is the optical analogy to an atomic lattice, in which the refractive index repeats periodically in three directions on the scale of the light wavelength. The particle sizes, shapes, and properties can be varied based on the wavelength of light we wish to control with colloidal photonic crystals. Due to the unique properties, photonic crystals operating at infrared wavelengths are expected to be crucial for applications in remote sensing, fiber-optic communication, chemical analysis, biomedical diagnostics, optical computing, security, and defense. Fabrication of large three-dimensional colloidal crystals on Earth remains a challenge as the particle assembly is strongly influenced by gravity effects, such as particle sedimentation, convection, and jamming.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 09/17/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Lam MA, Khusid B, Kondic L, Meyer WV. "Role of diffusion in crystallization of hard-sphere colloids." Physical Review E. 2021 Nov;104(5-1):054607. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.104.054607 ; PMID: 34942784 , Nov-2021
Papers from Meeting Proceedings Lei Q, Khusid B, Kondic L, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM, Meyer WV, Reich AJ. "Phase transitions in colloidal suspensions of spheres and ellipsoids under microgravity." 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, Houston, TX, November 9-12, 2022.

38th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, Houston, TX, November 9-12, 2022. Paper ID 13. , Nov-2022

Papers from Meeting Proceedings Lei Q, Khusid B, Kondic L, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM, Meyer WV, Reich AJ. "Colloidal phase transitions under microgravity." 11th Annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference, Washington, DC, July 25-28, 2022.

11th Annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference, Washington, DC, July 25-28, 2022. Paper ID 118. , Jul-2022

Papers from Meeting Proceedings Meyer WV, Khusid B, Kondic L, Lei Q, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM. "Recent experiments on hard sphere colloidal crystallization in microgravity on the International Space Station." ACS Spring 2022 (American Chemical Society Spring Meeting 2022), San Diego, CA, March 20-24, 2022.

ACS Spring 2022 (American Chemical Society Spring Meeting 2022), San Diego, CA, March 20-24, 2022. Paper ID 3703722. , Mar-2022

Patents 63/365667. Provisional patent issued June 2022. Jun-2022 Murphy M, Lei Q, Khusid B, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM, Meyer WV. "Method and Apparatus for Fabrication of Large Three-Dimensional Single Colloidal Crystals for Bragg Diffraction of Infrared Light."
Project Title:  Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature and Gradient Control (ACET11) Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2021 
Division: Physical Sciences 
Research Discipline/Element:
Physical Sciences: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Start Date: 09/01/2019  
End Date: 08/31/2022  
Task Last Updated: 08/04/2021 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Khusid, Boris  Ph.D. / New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Address:  Chemical & Materials Engineering 
University Heights 
Newark , NJ 07102-1982 
Email: khusid@njit.edu 
Phone: 973-596-3316  
Congressional District: 10 
Web:  
Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Chaikin, Paul  Ph.D. New York University 
Hollingsworth, Andrew  Ph.D. New York University 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: Co-PI: Paul M. Chaikin, Department of Physics, New York University, 726 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, Tel: (212) 998-7694, E-mail: chaikin@nyu.edu; Co-PI: Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Department of Physics, New York University, 726 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, Tel: (212) 998-8428; E-mail: andrewdh@nyu.edu.
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC19K1655 
Responsible Center: NASA GRC 
Grant Monitor: McQuillen, John  
Center Contact: 216-433-2876 
john.b.mcquillen@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 12703 
Solicitation / Funding Source: 2013 Complex Fluids & Macromolecular Biophysics NNH13ZTT001N 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC19K1655 
Project Type: FLIGHT 
Flight Program: ISS 
No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:
No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Program--Element: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: ISS--Space X-19

NOTE: End date changed to 8/31/2022 per NSSC information (Ed., 12/10/21)

Task Description: NOTE 1/21/2020: Continuation of "Kinetics of Electric Field-Driven Phase Transitions in Polarized Colloids," grant NNX13AQ53G, with same Principal Investigator Dr. Boris Khusid.

Motivation: The widespread use of colloidal processes for scalable manufacturing of structured materials emphasizes a critical need for improving fundamental understanding of the role of external fields in directing non-equilibrium phenomena in suspensions. The challenge is due to kinetic limitations because the particles can be trapped into metastable configurations for a long time due to the lower mobility of multi-particle structures compared to that of individual particles. Microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study these phenomena by removing masking gravity effects, such as particle sedimentation, convection, and jamming. The proposed research addresses both fundamental and technological questions in the science of colloids aimed at understanding the equilibrium and metastable crystalline, liquid, and glassy structures and the use of these materials in additive manufacturing.

Objectives: Conduct tests in the International Space Station (ISS) Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE) facility to elucidate the mechanisms of non-equilibrium phenomena underlying the assembly of colloidal particles assisted by temperature field gradients and suggest novel routes for processing functional materials.

Methodology: A novel approach will be used to study mechanisms for formation of metastable and glassy phases in suspensions in the ISS and for comparison on Earth. A single sample will be exposed to a temperature gradient to cover the interesting range of particle densities. As the particle density is directly measured by microscopy, a priori knowledge of the gradient profile is not required. Experiments will involve setting up a temperature gradient to observe the resulting structures and then locally mix a region of known density to watch it glassify or crystallize. Quantitative data on the suspension rheology will come from microrheology measurements through tracking particle thermal motion.

Deliverables: Understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in colloids driven by temperature gradients and experimental database for the control and manipulation of colloidal structures in space and terrestrial applications.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: Research Overview

• Why is the research needed? New functional materials are, in principle, created using micron-sized particles suspended in fluid (called colloids) that self-organize into crystalline structures or amorphous glass phases by means of entropic forces or under the control of non-equilibrium drive as supplied, for example, by temperature gradients. The ACE-T11 experiments utilize confocal microscopy for time- and space-resolved, 3D imaging of spherical colloidal particles, whose phases can be controlled by adding depletants and/or adjusting spatial temperature changes around a particular location and applying temperature gradients. The smaller particles allow the tuning of the interactions between the colloids, and in this way control the structure, density and composition of the colloidal dispersion.

• What will be accomplished? In ACE-T11, the phase behavior of micron-sized colloidal particles is studied by varying the particle number density. Under certain conditions, the particles self-organize into crystalline, or dense amorphous glass phases set by the particle number density. Increasing the particle number density enables a study of the crystallization and/or glass formation over a controlled range of particle densities. Three-dimensional structures that are impossible to create or reform on Earth due to gravitational sedimentation (high density contrast between particles and fluid) can be observed and controlled in microgravity.

• What will be the impact of the research? Ultimately, the ability to design functional structures – based on micron-scale building blocks – with a variety of well-controlled three-dimensional bonding symmetries, amorphous structures and different rheologies will allow new devices for chemical energy production and storage, photonics and communication, and a new set of slurries and pastes useful for additive manufacturing. Such materials might include photonic crystals with programmed distributions of defects. Optical technology utilizing such materials may offer intriguing solutions to unavoidable heat generation and bandwidth limitations facing the computer industry. Insights will also be gained as to the formation of amorphous glass phases as distinct from the crystalline phases, a question raised by previous microgravity experiments, as yet unresolved, where glass phases found on Earth readily crystallized in micro-g. The beginning of this process is understanding the basic interactions between micro- and nanoscale particles, and how to control the colloidal structure using external sources such as temperature gradients and light.

• Space Applications: Eventually, future space exploration may use self-assembly and self-replication to make materials and devices that can repair themselves. Self-assembly and evolutionarily-optimized functional units are key to long-duration space voyages. Even more immediate is the requirement of replacement parts and specialized repair facilities for space missions. 3D printing and additive manufacturing will be necessary for future space missions. The development of particle slurries and pastes with the appropriate rheological properties that work in both micro-g and conventional gravity will be needed. One objective of this experiment is to develop such materials.

• Earth Applications: This investigation involves several fundamental and practical aspects of soft matter science with potential applications on Earth. Self-assembly processes are crucial to making functional materials and devices from small particles. Improved design and assembly of structures fabricated in microgravity may have use in a variety of fields from medicine to electronics on Earth. Ultimately, the ability to design and build functional structures based on colloids will allow new devices for chemical energy, communication, and photonics, including photonic materials to control and manipulate light. The rapidly growing fields of 3D printing and additive manufacturing rely on the assembly and sintering of particle aggregates and the preparation of high-density slurries and pastes of different colloidal materials and with different rheological and mechanical properties is a main goal of these studies.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2021 
Task Progress: The study was conducted within the scope of the originally-proposed research plan. The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and New York University (NYU) researchers worked in closed collaboration with researchers from the NASA Glenn Research Center and ZIN Technologies to carry out experiments on colloidal crystallization of hard-sphere suspensions in the ACE Light Microscopy Module (LMM) on the ISS. Experiments demonstrated that colloidal particles became orderly arranged creating the face centered cubic (FCC) lattice structure as predicted by most recent computer simulations. This outcome provided the first confirmation of computer simulations of liquid crystallization of hard spheres.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 09/17/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Lei Q, Khusid B, Kondic L, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM, Meyer WV, Reich AJ. "Colloidal crystallization under microgravity." To be presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, Baltimore, MD, November 3-6, 2021.

37th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, Baltimore, MD, November 3-6, 2021. Abstract ID: 202172. , Nov-2021

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Lei Q, Khusid B, Kondic L, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM, Meyer WV, Reich AJ. "Phase transitions in colloids under microgravity." Presented at the American Physical Society March Meeting 2021, Virtual, March 15-19, 2021.

Bulletin of the American Physical Society. 2021;Abstract: B07.00004. https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/MAR21/Session/B07.4 , Mar-2021

Papers from Meeting Proceedings Lei Q, Khusid B, Kondic L, Hollingsworth AD, Chaikin PM, Meyer WV, Reich AJ. "Building colloidal crystals under microgravity." Paper presented at the 10th Annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference, Virtual, August 3-5, 2021.

Meeting paper ID: 130. 10th Annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference, Virtual, August 3-5, 2021. , Aug-2021

Project Title:  Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature and Gradient Control (ACET11) Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2020 
Division: Physical Sciences 
Research Discipline/Element:
Physical Sciences: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Start Date: 09/01/2019  
End Date: 08/31/2021  
Task Last Updated: 08/19/2020 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Khusid, Boris  Ph.D. / New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Address:  Chemical & Materials Engineering 
University Heights 
Newark , NJ 07102-1982 
Email: khusid@njit.edu 
Phone: 973-596-3316  
Congressional District: 10 
Web:  
Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Chaikin, Paul  Ph.D. New York University 
Hollingsworth, Andrew  Ph.D. New York University 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC19K1655 
Responsible Center: NASA GRC 
Grant Monitor: McQuillen, John  
Center Contact: 216-433-2876 
john.b.mcquillen@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 12703 
Solicitation / Funding Source: 2013 Complex Fluids & Macromolecular Biophysics NNH13ZTT001N 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC19K1655 
Project Type: FLIGHT 
Flight Program: ISS 
No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:  
No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Program--Element: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: ISS--Space X-19

Task Description: NOTE 1/21/2020: Continuation of "Kinetics of Electric Field-Driven Phase Transitions in Polarized Colloids," grant NNX13AQ53G, with same Principal Investigator Dr. Boris Khusid.

Motivation: The widespread use of colloidal processes for scalable manufacturing of structured materials emphasizes a critical need for improving fundamental understanding of the role of external fields in directing non-equilibrium phenomena in suspensions. The challenge is due to kinetic limitations because the particles can be trapped into metastable configurations for a long time due to the lower mobility of multi-particle structures compared to that of individual particles. Microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study these phenomena by removing masking gravity effects, such as particle sedimentation, convection, and jamming. The proposed research addresses both fundamental and technological questions in the science of colloids aimed at understanding the equilibrium and metastable crystalline, liquid, and glassy structures and the use of these materials in additive manufacturing.

Objectives: Conduct tests in the International Space Station (ISS) Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE) facility to elucidate the mechanisms of non-equilibrium phenomena underlying the assembly of colloidal particles assisted by temperature field gradients and suggest novel routes for processing functional materials.

Methodology: A novel approach will be used to study mechanisms for formation of metastable and glassy phases in suspensions in the ISS and for comparison on Earth. A single sample will be exposed to a temperature gradient to cover the interesting range of particle densities. As the particle density is directly measured by microscopy, a priori knowledge of the gradient profile is not required. Experiments will involve setting up a temperature gradient to observe the resulting structures and then locally mix a region of known density to watch it glassify or crystallize. Quantitative data on the suspension rheology will come from microrheology measurements through tracking particle thermal motion.

Deliverables: Understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in colloids driven by temperature gradients and experimental database for the control and manipulation of colloidal structures in space and terrestrial applications.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: Understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in colloids driven by temperature gradients and experimental database for the control and manipulation of colloidal structures in space and terrestrial applications.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2020 
Task Progress: The study was conducted within the scope of the originally-proposed research plan. The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and New York University (NYU) researchers worked in closed collaboration with researchers from the NASA Glenn Research Center and ZIN Technologies to develop and test hardware, experimental procedures, and samples for microgravity experiments on colloidal crystallization of hard-sphere suspensions in the Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) and the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) on the International Space Station (ISS). Space X -19 delivered the module equipped with three capillaries filled with colloids to the ISS on Dec 5, 2019.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 09/17/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Significant Media Coverage Jenkins J. "Article about PI's flight experiment, 'Researchers take exploration of key 'building block' particles into space.' " Phys Org site, January 9, 2020. https://phys.org/news/2020-01-exploration-key-block-particles-space.html , Jan-2020
Significant Media Coverage Jenkins J. "Article about PI's flight experiment. 'Researchers take exploration of key 'building block' particles into space.' " EurekAlert! American Association for the Advancement of Science, January 8, 2020. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/njio-rte010820.php , Jan-2020
Significant Media Coverage Sicker R, Meyer W, Khusid B, Chaikin P, Hollingsworth A. "Advanced Colloid Experiments – (ACE) T11." In: Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Mission Payloads for SpaceX-19, Dec 6, 2019. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/space-life-and-physical-sciences-research-and-applications-mission-payloads-for-spacex-19 , Dec-2019
Project Title:  Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature and Gradient Control (ACET11) Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2019 
Division: Physical Sciences 
Research Discipline/Element:
Physical Sciences: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Start Date: 09/01/2019  
End Date: 08/31/2021  
Task Last Updated: 01/21/2020 
Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Khusid, Boris  Ph.D. / New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Address:  Chemical & Materials Engineering 
University Heights 
Newark , NJ 07102-1982 
Email: khusid@njit.edu 
Phone: 973-596-3316  
Congressional District: 10 
Web:  
Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: New Jersey Institute of Technology 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Chaikin, Paul  Ph.D. New York University 
Hollingsworth, Andrew  Ph.D. New York University 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. 80NSSC19K1655 
Responsible Center: NASA GRC 
Grant Monitor: McQuillen, John  
Center Contact: 216-433-2876 
john.b.mcquillen@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 12703 
Solicitation / Funding Source: 2013 Complex Fluids & Macromolecular Biophysics NNH13ZTT001N 
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC19K1655 
Project Type: FLIGHT 
Flight Program:  
No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:  
No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Program--Element: COMPLEX FLUIDS/SOFT MATTER--Complex Fluids 
Task Description: NOTE 1/21/2020: Continuation of "Kinetics of Electric Field-Driven Phase Transitions in Polarized Colloids," grant NNX13AQ53G, with same Principal Investigator Dr. Boris Khusid.

Motivation: The widespread use of colloidal processes for scalable manufacturing of structured materials emphasizes a critical need for improving fundamental understanding of the role of external fields in directing non-equilibrium phenomena in suspensions. The challenge is due to kinetic limitations because the particles can be trapped into metastable configurations for a long time due to the lower mobility of multi-particle structures compared to that of individual particles. Microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study these phenomena by removing masking gravity effects, such as particle sedimentation, convection and jamming. The proposed research addresses both fundamental and technological questions in the science of colloids aimed at understanding the equilibrium and metastable crystalline, liquid, and glassy structures and the use of these materials in additive manufacturing.

Objectives: Conduct tests in the International Space Station (ISS) Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE) facility to elucidate the mechanisms of non-equilibrium phenomena underlying the assembly of colloidal particles assisted by temperature field gradients and suggest novel routes for processing functional materials.

Methodology: A novel approach will be used to study mechanisms for formation of metastable and glassy phases in suspensions in the ISS and for comparison on Earth. A single sample will be exposed to a temperature gradient to cover the interesting range of particle densities. As the particle density is directly measured by microscopy, a priori knowledge of the gradient profile is not required. Experiments will involve setting up a temperature gradient to observe the resulting structures and then locally mix a region of known density to watch it glassify or crystallize. Quantitative data on the suspension rheology will come from microrheology measurements through tracking particle thermal motion.

Deliverables: Understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in colloids driven by temperature gradients and experimental database for the control and manipulation of colloidal structures in space and terrestrial applications.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: Understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in colloids driven by temperature gradients and experimental database for the control and manipulation of colloidal structures in space and terrestrial applications.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2019 
Task Progress: New project for FY2019.

NOTE 1/21/2020: Continuation of "Kinetics of Electric Field-Driven Phase Transitions in Polarized Colloids," grant NNX13AQ53G, with same Principal Investigator Dr. Boris Khusid. See that project for previous reporting.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 09/17/2023) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2019