@incollection{WisselFreudenmannPerezetal.2025, author = {Wissel, Julian and Freudenmann, Dominic and Perez, Nicolas and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stadtm{\"u}ller, Johannes and Stollenwerk, Manfred}, title = {Various highly effective sputtered layer structures as catalysts for H2O2 decomposition for use in satellite engines}, series = {MaterialsWeek 2025 - Book of Abstracts}, booktitle = {MaterialsWeek 2025 - Book of Abstracts}, publisher = {Deutsche Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Materialkunde e.V. (DGM)}, address = {Sankt Augustin}, isbn = {978-3-88355-446-4}, pages = {53 -- 53}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Catalysts are frequently employed in both research and industrial applications to facilitate or accelerate chemical reactions. One such application is in monopropellant thrusters for space propulsion systems, where hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used as a liquid propellant. The decomposition of liquid hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas, which ultimately generates thrust, can be achieved using noble metal catalysts from the platinoid group, such as platinum and iridium. This promotes the use of more environmentally friendly and less toxic propellants, such as H2O2, instead of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO). The optimization of coating structures with these catalytic materials is essential for future space applications, as it aims to extend the lifespan of catalyst materials and results in a better utilization of H2O2 in satellite engines. Therefore, different layer structures were deposited onto Duranit D99 pellets using a controlled magnetron sputtering process. Previous studies have shown that the used sputtering pressure has a strong influence on the structure of the deposited coatings [2][3]. Certain parameter combinations produce catalytic layers with rough textures and a highly porous microstructure, see figure 1 [1]. To improve the thermal and mechanical stability of the sputtered layers, thin adhesive layers of Titanium and Zirconium were applied beneath the catalytic layer. The pellets were then heated in an oven at 640°C for one minute to simulate the thermal effects experienced in a satellite engine during ignition. Following this, the catalytic performance of the pellets was tested in laboratory experiments using 30\% H2O2. Pellets with sputtered platinum as the catalytic coating delivered the best results. These coatings will be further evaluated in an engine test conducted at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). Hydrogen peroxide is also expected to play a crucial role in future lunar and Martian colonization efforts. In this context, catalytic coatings would be used to decompose H2O2 to supply astronauts with water and oxygen, rather than to generate thrust in satellite engines.}, subject = {Satellitentechnik}, language = {en} }