Abstract: Functional components of spacecraft structures can be subject to detrimental impacts by energetic particles produced from an electric propulsion system. A graphene coating applied to a functional component can maintain electrical conductivity upon a surface of the functional component, thereby allowing charge dissipation to take place, while also resisting sputtering erosion resulting from impacts of the energetic particles. Accordingly, spacecraft structures can include an electric propulsion system, a functional component that is at least partially impacted by an outflow of the electric propulsion system, and a graphene coating upon the functional component. Methods for operating such spacecraft structures can include generating an outflow of energetic particles from an electric propulsion system of a spacecraft structure, and at least partially impacting the outflow of energetic particles upon a functional component of the spacecraft structure, where the functional component has a graphene coating thereon.

Abstract: A system for magnetic detection includes a magneto-optical defect center material including at least one magneto-optical defect center that emits an optical signal when excited by an excitation light; a radio frequency (RF) exciter system configured to provide RF excitation to the magneto-optical defect center material; an optical light source configured to direct the excitation light to the magneto-optical defect center material; and an optical detector configured to receive the optical signal emitted by the magneto-optical defect center material.

Abstract: Various systems and methods relating to two-dimensional materials such as graphene. A membrane include a cross-linked graphene platelet polymer that includes a plurality of cross-linked graphene platelets. The cross-linked graphene platelets include a graphene portion and a cross-linking portion. The cross-linking portion contains a 4 to 10 atom link. The cross-linked graphene platelet polymer is produced by reaction of an epoxide functionalized graphene platelet and a (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide functionalized cross-linker.

Abstract: It can be difficult to remove atomically thin films, such as graphene, graphene-based material and other two-dimensional materials, from a growth substrate and then to transfer the thin films to a secondary substrate. Tearing and conformality issues can arise during the removal and transfer processes. Processes for forming a composite structure by manipulating a two-dimensional material, such as graphene or graphene-base material, can include: providing a two-dimensional material adhered to a growth substrate; depositing a supporting layer on the two-dimensional material while the two-dimensional material is adhered to the growth substrate; and releasing the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate, the two-dimensional material remaining in contact with the supporting layer following release of the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate.

Abstract: Sheets of graphene-based material comprising single layer graphene and suitable for formation of a plurality of perforations in the single layer graphene are provided. In an aspect, the sheets of graphene-based material are formed by chemical vapor deposition followed by one or more conditioning steps. In a further aspect, the sheets of graphene-based material include non-graphenic carbon-based material and may be characterized the amount, mobility and/or volatility of the non-graphenic carbon-based material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating a subsurface liquid can include an excitation coil configured to induce a magnetic resonance in a subsurface liquid, an array of magnetometers associated with the excitation coil configured to detect a magnetic vector of the magnetic resonance excited subsurface liquid, and a controller in communication with the array of magnetometers and configured to locate the subsurface liquid based on magnetic signals output from the array of magnetometers.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a target molecule. The method includes allowing a fluid containing the target molecule to pass by a complementary moiety attached to a paramagnetic ion so as to cause the complementary moiety and the paramagnetic ion to change a position. A magnetic effect change caused by the change in position of the paramagnetic ion is detected. The target molecule is identified based on the identity of the complementary moiety and the detected magnetic effect change.

Abstract: A method for transferring a graphene sheet from a copper substrate to a functional substrate includes forming the graphene sheet on the copper substrate using chemical vapor deposition, and irradiating the graphene sheet disposed on the copper substrate with a plurality of xenon ions using broad beam irradiation to form a prepared graphene sheet. The prepared graphene sheet is resistant to forming unintentional defects induced during transfer of the prepared graphene sheet to the functional substrate. The method further includes removing the copper substrate from the prepared graphene sheet using an etchant bath, floating the prepared graphene sheet in a floating bath, submerging the functional substrate in the floating bath, and decreasing a fluid level of the floating bath to lower the prepared graphene sheet onto the functional substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating a subsurface liquid can include an excitation coil configured to induce a magnetic resonance in a subsurface liquid, an array of magnetometers associated with the excitation coil configured to detect a magnetic vector of the magnetic resonance excited subsurface liquid, and a controller in communication with the array of magnetometers and configured to locate the subsurface liquid based on magnetic signals output from the array of magnetometers.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a target molecule. The method includes allowing a fluid containing the target molecule to pass by a complementary moiety attached to a paramagnetic ion so as to cause the complementary moiety and the paramagnetic ion to change a position. A magnetic effect change caused by the change in position of the paramagnetic ion is detected. The target molecule is identified based on the identity of the complementary moiety and the detected magnetic effect change.

Abstract: Functional components of spacecraft structures can be subject to detrimental impacts by energetic particles produced from an electric propulsion system. A graphene coating applied to a functional component can maintain electrical conductivity upon a surface of the functional component, thereby allowing charge dissipation to take place, while also resisting sputtering erosion resulting from impacts of the energetic particles. Accordingly, spacecraft structures can include an electric propulsion system, a functional component that is at least partially impacted by an outflow of the electric propulsion system, and a graphene coating upon the functional component. Methods for operating such spacecraft structures can include generating an outflow of energetic particles from an electric propulsion system of a spacecraft structure, and at least partially impacting the outflow of energetic particles upon a functional component of the spacecraft structure, where the functional component has a graphene coating thereon.

Abstract: Perforated graphene sheets can be used in forming separation membranes. Separation membranes of the present disclosure, which can be used in gas separation processes in some embodiments, can include one or more polymer layers and one or more layers of perforated graphene. Methods for separating a gas mixture can include contacting a gas mixture with the separation membranes, and transiting one or more of the gases through the perforated graphene so as to affect separation.

Abstract: A system for magnetic detection includes a magneto-optical defect center material including at least one magneto-optical defect center that emits an optical signal when excited by an excitation light; a radio frequency (RF) exciter system configured to provide RF excitation to the magneto-optical defect center material; an optical light source configured to direct the excitation light to the magneto-optical defect center material; and an optical detector configured to receive the optical signal emitted by the magneto-optical defect center material.

Abstract: A method for transferring a graphene sheet from a copper substrate to a functional substrate includes forming the graphene sheet on the copper substrate using chemical vapor deposition, and irradiating the graphene sheet disposed on the copper substrate with a plurality of xenon ions using broad beam irradiation to form a prepared graphene sheet. The prepared graphene sheet is resistant to forming unintentional defects induced during transfer of the prepared graphene sheet to the functional substrate. The method further includes removing the copper substrate from the prepared graphene sheet using an etchant bath, floating the prepared graphene sheet in a floating bath, submerging the functional substrate in the floating bath, and decreasing a fluid level of the floating bath to lower the prepared graphene sheet onto the functional substrate.

Abstract: Two-dimensional materials having apertures in their basal planes are described, where at least a portion of the apertures are occluded with a selectively introduced occluding moiety. Occluding moieties that pass into apertures function to occlude apertures. Composite membranes are described having a porous substrate with a two-dimensional material disposed on the membrane and covering only a portion of the pores, wherein at least a portion of uncovered substrate pores are occluded. Pore occlusion can be achieved by introduction of an occluding particle optionally followed by chemical reaction, deformation or swelling of the particle to facilitate occlusion of pores. Two-dimensional materials covering substrate pores can be size-selected and optionally functionalized providing for selective permeability through composite membranes. Methods for occluding defects and apertures in two-dimensional materials and for selectively occluding pores in composite membranes are provided.

Abstract: Perforated graphene sheets can be used in forming separation membranes. Separation membranes of the present disclosure, which can be used in gas separation processes in some embodiments, can include one or more layers of perforated graphene and one or more layers of another membrane material. Methods for separating a gas mixture can include contacting a gas mixture with the separation membranes, and transiting one or more of the gases through the perforated graphene so as to affect separation.

Abstract: A method for making a nanoporous membrane is disclosed. The method provides a composite film comprising an atomically thin material layer and a polymer layer, and then bombarding the composite film with energetic particles to form a plurality of pores through at least the atomically thin material layer. The nanoporous membrane also has a atomically thin material layer with a plurality of apertures therethrough and a polymer film layer adjacent one side of the graphene layer. The polymer film layer has a plurality of enlarged pores therethrough, which are aligned with the plurality of apertures. All of the enlarged pores may be concentrically aligned with all the apertures. In one embodiment the atomically thin material layer is graphene.

Abstract: Perforated sheets of graphene-based material having a plurality of perforations are provided. The perforated sheets may include perforated single layer graphene. The perforations may be located over greater than 10% of said area of said sheet of graphene-based material and the mean pore size of the perforations selected from the range of 0.3 nm to 1 ?m. Methods for making the perforated sheets are also provided.

Abstract: Sheets of graphene-based material comprising single layer graphene and suitable for formation of a plurality of perforations in the single layer graphene are provided. In an aspect, the sheets of graphene-based material are formed by chemical vapor deposition followed by one or more conditioning steps. In a further aspect, the sheets of graphene-based material include non-graphenic carbon-based material and may be characterized the amount, mobility and/or volatility of the non-graphenic carbon-based material.

Abstract: A method for making a nanoporous membrane is disclosed. The method provides a composite film comprising an atomically thin material layer and a polymer layer, and then bombarding the composite film with energetic particles to form a plurality of pores through at least the atomically thin material layer. The nanoporous membrane also has a atomically thin material layer with a plurality of apertures therethrough and a polymer film layer adjacent one side of the graphene layer. The polymer film layer has a plurality of enlarged pores therethrough, which are aligned with the plurality of apertures. All of the enlarged pores may be concentrically aligned with all the apertures. In one embodiment the atomically thin material layer is graphene.