Description: A key concern with space travel is that microorganisms can hitch a ride on spacecraft leading to biological contamination of other planetary bodies or the transport of pathogenic organisms to Earth during return missions. Contamination of spacecraft and associated hardware with inorganic, organic or biological material can damage sensitive electronics and hardware and potentially cause catastrophic events associated with space travel. To ensure cleanliness and protect planets from microorganisms, NASA has implemented extensive cleaning procedures and processes, such as clean rooms, UV light and other surface disinfection protocols, to ensure a contamination-free environment. SynMatter proposes demonstrating the feasibility producing a self-cleaning & sterilizing low surface energy coating, which prevents adhesion of contaminants and reduces cleaning requirements, with inherent self-sterilization properties that prevent the adherence, growth and spread of microorganisms. This coating will be achieved through the creation of Smart Particles that impart multiple layers of protective mechanisms. The coating will be highly water and oil repellent which minimizes adherence of water- and oil-soluble compounds and microorganisms and produces a self‑cleaning surface. The coating will have inherent antimicrobial properties, killing any biological organisms that do adhere to the surface. As a tertiary protection mechanism, the Smart Particles can deliver human safe biocides in response to the growth of microorganisms, ensuring that the surface remains free of living microbes. This omniphobic, antimicrobial coating is applicable for many types of spacecraft within NASA’s portfolio, be they satellites, rovers, space stations, or capsules for human space travel. They can provide continuous protection against adherence of inorganic, organic and biological contaminants giving the saying “Cleanliness is a virtue” a whole new meaning.

Benefits: The main application for the low surface energy, self-cleaning & sterilizing coating is to improve cleanliness of spacecraft by preventing the adhesion of contamination and microorganism growth. This coating has use on most spacecraft, but particularly those that come in contact with other planetary bodies, such as upcoming lunar landers (Peregrine, Blue Ghost, Nova-C, etc.), or those that will be returning samples, such as upcoming JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration mission. ISS use would reduce microbial contamination and protect human health.

There is a growing need for coatings that prevent the growth and spread of pathogens. Hospital acquired‑ infections require costly medical treatment and cause avoidable deaths. Contaminated food results in illness and food waste. Accelerated by COVID-19, there is also demand for antimicrobial surfaces in high traffic environments such as daycares, schools, aircraft, entertainment venues and more.