United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

Robin E Southward

John W Connell

Joseph G Smith, Jr

Sayata Ghose

Kent A Watson

Donavon Mark Delozier

Anne K St Clair

Diane M Stoakley

David W Thompson

In the method of embodiments of the invention, the metal seeded carbon allotropes are reacted in solution forming zero valent metallic nanowires at the seeded sites. A polymeric passivating reagent, which selects for anisotropic growth is also used in the reaction to facilitate nanowire formation. The resulting structure resembles a porcupine, where carbon allotropes have metallic wires of nanometer dimensions that emanate from the seed sites on the carbon allotrope. These sites are populated by nanowires having approximately the same diameter as the starting nanoparticle diameter.

Preparation of metal nanowire decorated carbon allotropes

Self-metallizing, flexible polyimide films with highly reflective surfaces are prepared by an in situ self-metallization procedure involving thermally initiated reduction of polymer-soluble silver(I) complexes. Polyamic acid solutions are doped with silver(I) acetate and solubilizing agents. Thermally curing the silver(I)-doped resins leads to flexible, metallized films which have reflectivities as high as 100%, abrasion-resistant surfaces, thermal stability and, in some cases, electrical conductivity, rendering them useful for space applications.

Reflective silvered polyimide films via in situ thermal reduction silver

Growing community of inventors

Stanwood, WA, United States of America

Robin E Southward