Abstract:
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement electrically tunable metasurfaces. In one embodiment, an electrically tunable metasurface reflectarray includes: a mirrored surface; a conductive layer; a dielectric layer; where the conductive layer and the dielectric layer are in direct contact, and thereby define a conductor-dielectric interface; a plurality of subwavelength antenna elements; and an electrical power source configured to establish a potential difference between at least one subwavelength antenna element and the mirrored surface; where a potential difference between a subwavelength antenna element and the mirrored surface applies an electric field to a corresponding region of the electrically tunable metasurface reflectarray; where any applied electric fields in conjunction with the geometry and the material composition of each of the subwavelength antenna elements, the conductive layer, and the dielectric layer, enable the electrically tunable metasurface reflectarray to measurably augment the propagation characteristics of incident electromagnetic waves.
Abstract:
A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom is provided. Power transmitters can be coordinated as a phased array and the power generated by the phased array is transmitted to one or more power receivers to achieve remote wireless power generation and delivery. In many embodiments, a reference signal is distributed within the space-based solar power station to coordinate the phased array. In several embodiments, determinations of the relative locations of the antennas in the array are generated by an array of sun sensors that estimate the shape of the module to evaluate the phase shift and/or amplitude modulation to apply to the reference signal at each power transmitter.
Abstract:
A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom, and/or compactible structures and deployment mechanisms used to form and deploy such satellite modules and power generation tiles associated therewith are provided. Each satellite module and/or power generation tile may be formed of a compactable structure and deployment mechanism capable of reducing the payload area required to deliver the satellite module to an orbital formation within the space-based solar power station and reliably deploy it once in orbit.
Abstract:
A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom is provided. Power transmitters can be coordinated as a phased array and the power generated by the phased array is transmitted to one or more power receivers to achieve remote wireless power generation and delivery. In many embodiments, a reference signal is distributed within the space-based solar power station to coordinate the phased array. In several embodiments, determinations of the relative locations of the antennas in the array are utilized to evaluate the phase shift and/or amplitude modulation to apply the reference signal at each power transmitter.
Abstract:
A plasmonic device having a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) waveguide and a tunable voltage applied across the TCO and a metal layer for modulating an input optical signal.
Abstract:
Nanoparticles may be formed into colloidal crystals that are chemically linked to a substrate. In certain implementations, the nanoparticles are formed into a colloidal crystal on an initial substrate, and then brought into contact with a binding precursor capable of chemically linking the colloidal crystal to a final substrate. Reacting the binding precursor to chemically link the colloidal crystal to the final substrate chemically links the colloidal crystal to the final substrate via functional groups linked to the nanoparticles and the final substrate respectively.
Abstract:
A plasmoelectric device for conversion of optical power to direct current (DC) electrical power includes a first plasmonic nanostructure having a first resonance value and a second plasmonic nanostructure having a second resonance value. The first and second plasmonic nanostructures are electrically coupled and the first plasmonic nanostructure is configured to receive irradiation at a first irradiation value and the second plasmonic nanostructure is configured to receive irradiation at a second irradiation value, to induce charge transfer between the first and second plasmonic nanostructures.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for epitaxy-free thin-film solar cells are described. The thin-film solar cells can be fabricated with low cost epitaxy-free processes. The solar cells have high efficiency and are lightweight. These properties make the solar cells desired for space based solar cell applications.
Abstract:
A dual-pathway system for CO2 capture in both acidified and basified streams is provided. The system may be embodied in an off-shore stand-alone facility to allow for the operation of oceanic CO2 capture to be more efficient and cost effective. Systems maintain high environmental standards by containing all intermediate acidic and alkaline solutions in a closed system so that the effluent discharged back into the ocean is at the similar pH and salinity as the feed oceanwater, with only CO2 removed. Acid and base produced by an electrodialyzer unit is used to achieve oceanwater decarbonization via gaseous CO2 removal and solid CaCO3 precipitates removal. The system is configured to require the processing of a very small fraction of the total oceanwater intake for the acid-base generation process.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for sensing and measuring local pH, pOH, and other protonic species using reversible excited-state photoacids and photobases are described. Various reversible excited-state photoacids and/or photobases are described that through a dynamic sensing mechanism exhibit varied fluorescence or phosphorescence intensity based on local activity of protonic species. Photoacids and photobases can be used in combination with confocal fluorescent microscopy for quantifying local activity of protonic species.