Modification of Pigments Utilizing Atomic Layer Deposition

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Stable, white, thermal control coatings are commonly used on radiators for a variety of missions. In orbital environments where surface charging occurs, these coatings must adequately dissipate charge buildup. To do so, one must encapsulate the coating pigment with conductive and stable components, which often suffer from undesirable solar absorptance and less stability.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center developed an application for atomic layer deposition (ALD) for coating pigments to prevent charge buildup. By introducing paired precursor gases, these coatings can be deposited on a myriad of substrates including high-aspect-ratio geometries and powders. The method provides tailorable resistivity to meet varying programmatic requirements.

NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact NASA’s Licensing Concierge at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at 202-358-7432 to initiate licensing discussions. Follow this link here for more information.