Final Report: NIAC Grant Self Assembly of Optical Structures in Space

This project was concerned with using self-assembly methods of chemistry and biology to fabricate large structures such as telescope mirrors in space or on the moon or Mars. Both biological and non-biological self assembly methods were considered, as well as methods for coating the resulting structures with silver for the purpose of making mirrors. For biological self-assembly we explored methods for growing plants that have controllable structures, and we found that this can be achieved to a certain extent through the use of growth hormones such as auxin. However the control of plant growth to produce structures of use in space applications will require significant advances in molecular biology to become feasible. A more practical approach is to use nonbiological self-assembly that involves polymers. One common way of making shapes with polymers is called blow molding. This technique by itself (probably) is not yet capable of producing accurate enough figure quality for optical/IR telescopes . The basic concept that polymers can be shaped, however, leads us to believe in the soundness of the overall concept of self-assembly in space for making mirrors. Therefore, we are motivated to propose a phase II project based on the shaping of polymer based mirrors. An important advance from this project has been the development of wet chemistry methods for coating biological and polymer surfaces with thin silver films based on an adaptation of the Tollens reaction. Therefore, we will have the option of wet coating or vacuum deposition coating the mirrors.