Anisotropic Microstructure and Chemo-Optical Properties of Fluorocarbon Films Deposited by Ablative Pulsed Plasma Thruster Plumes
- 1School of Engineering Science, Shandong Xiehe University, Jinan 250107, China
- 2Research Institute of Aerospace Technology, Central South University, Changsha 410012, China
Abstract
Ablative pulsed plasma thruster (APPT)-induced fluorocarbon contamination severely degrades microsatellite optics and solar panels, but the spatial heterogeneity of its chemo-optical properties and underlying plasma-film mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this work, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning probe microscopy (SPM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry were used to characterize the chemical structure, morphology, thickness, and chemo-optical properties of PTFE-derived fluorocarbon films, while high-speed imaging and triple Langmuir probe diagnostics were used to map plume conditions governing film formation. The film F/C ratio (0.6–1.0) is far lower than that of pristine PTFE (2.0), controlled by competition between energetic ion sputtering and delayed neutral C2F4 deposition. In the electrode-perpendicular plane, the F/C ratio reaches a minimum ~0.6 at 30°, corresponding to a transmittance of <20% at 550 nm; anode-side films exhibit lower F/C ratios and transmittance yet higher reflectance than cathode-side counterparts. Films in the electrode-parallel plane show quasi-symmetric bond distributions and higher F/C ratios and transmittance, with F/C minima at ±15°. By correlating plasma anisotropy (cathode-biased electron density and anode-biased electron temperature) with film chemistry and optics, we identify this ion–neutral competition as the origin of angle-dependent film properties. This work provides design guidelines: optics within 30° of the thruster axis in the perpendicular plane require active protection, enabling quantitative anisotropic contamination risk assessment for microsatellites.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026anisotropic,
title = {{Anisotropic Microstructure and Chemo-Optical Properties of Fluorocarbon Films Deposited by Ablative Pulsed Plasma Thruster Plumes}},
author = {Rui Zhang and Zhen He and Yingjie Zhao and Wenxiong Xi},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202562},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2562},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Anisotropic Microstructure and Chemo-Optical Properties of Fluorocarbon Films Deposited by Ablative Pulsed Plasma Thruster Plumes
AU - Rui Zhang
AU - Zhen He
AU - Yingjie Zhao
AU - Wenxiong Xi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/17
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202562
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2562
AB - Ablative pulsed plasma thruster (APPT)-induced fluorocarbon contamination severely degrades microsatellite optics and solar panels, but the spatial heterogeneity of its chemo-optical properties and underlying plasma-film mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this work, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning probe microscopy (SPM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry were used to characterize the chemical structure, morphology, thickness, and chemo-optical properties of PTFE-derived fluorocarbon films, while high-speed imaging and triple Langmuir probe diagnostics were used to map plume conditions governing film formation. The film F/C ratio (0.6–1.0) is far lower than that of pristine PTFE (2.0), controlled by competition between energetic ion sputtering and delayed neutral C2F4 deposition. In the electrode-perpendicular plane, the F/C ratio reaches a minimum ~0.6 at 30°, corresponding to a transmittance of <20% at 550 nm; anode-side films exhibit lower F/C ratios and transmittance yet higher reflectance than cathode-side counterparts. Films in the electrode-parallel plane show quasi-symmetric bond distributions and higher F/C ratios and transmittance, with F/C minima at ±15°. By correlating plasma anisotropy (cathode-biased electron density and anode-biased electron temperature) with film chemistry and optics, we identify this ion–neutral competition as the origin of angle-dependent film properties. This work provides design guidelines: optics within 30° of the thruster axis in the perpendicular plane require active protection, enabling quantitative anisotropic contamination risk assessment for microsatellites.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -