Plazma-Sk Ltd. has developed a nanostructured coating technology to suppress secondary electron emission on metal surfaces in communication satellites. The technology involves coating metal surfaces with a thin film of nanostructured carbon particles to prevent multipactor discharge. This allows for increased power transmission and reduced satellite failure rates. The coating can be applied at low cost in open air and does not require expensive equipment. Testing has confirmed the coating reduces secondary electron emission and increases the multipactor threshold. The technology provides a low-cost solution and competitive advantages over alternatives. Plazma-Sk seeks funding to further develop and commercialize the technology.

1. 1
Innovation project name:
Nanostructured coating to suppress
the effect of secondary electrons emission
on metal surfaces in communication satellites
Sk
Skolkovo Name of organization:
Plazma-Sk Ltd.
Moscow, 2016

2. At the creation and operation of communications satellites one of the key issues that determine the
technical and operational data (number of working channels, maximum power transmission path, the time of
working without crashing, total lifetime) is the process of occurrence of secondary high frequency electron
discharge in receiving and transmitting paths of satellite.
Secondary electron ultrahigh frequency vacuum discharges (UHF-SED) or in English literature "multipactor"
occur in a vacuum on the walls of the microwave waveguides and UHF resonators on dielectric windows
and inserts.
The phenomenon of UHF-SED is manifested in avalanche growth of the electron concentration at the single
surface (unilateral discharge) or between two surfaces (two-tailed discharge). UHF-SED develops rapidly
since several randomly emerged electrons or electrons formed in the residual gas and also on the surface
of the metallic or dielectric elements of UHF path as a result of exposure of cosmic radiation.
The high concentration of electrons in the system of waveguide path of the spacecraft leads to the
absorption of UHF power and distortion of the transmitted signals, as well as to the emergence of radio
interference capable to suppress the receiving UHF channel of the spacecraft. UHF-SED limits the power of
radiation of UHF generators, developing in the volume of the UHF device, at its output windows or elements
of UHF radiation transporting path.
UHF-SED leads to a limitation the maximum power that may be transmitted through the receiving and
transmission path of spacecraft, and thus it limits the number of operating channels, the maximum UHF
power of transmitting path, reduces the operation time of the UHF transmission system without crashing,
thereby disrupts the work of the all spacecraft systems and reduces the overall service life.
Another key problem - a sudden failure of the satellite, the cause of which, according to the version of the
Stanford University (2013), is electromagnetic impulse, emitted by the plasma generated from the impact of
the particles of dark space dust. Plazma-Sk Ltd. technology can be applied to solve this problem (reducing
be 2 times the satellite vulnerability to this factor).
2
1. The description of the problem on which decision the project is
aimed to:

3. Technology of suppression of the multipactor effect, which is a covering of surface of metal elements of the microwave
transmission system of spacecraft by a thin film thickness of ~ 1mcm of nanostructured carbon particles by a specially developed
technique.
2. The description of proposed problem solution and its advantages:
Project technology is a radical solution of problem:
 Suppression of secondary electron emission without significant change of radio physical
properties of processed parts and assemblies;
 Possibility to increase by more than 100% of the power of the UHF transmission path
for each satellite;
 Suppression of high-frequency electromagnetic noises.
Experimental confirmation of the effectiveness of the method:
Nanocoatings obtained using ethanol gel and developed original method of processing of
metal samples by Plazma-Sk Ltd.’s technology significantly reduce the maximum values ​​of
the coefficient of secondary electron emission (SEEC) (up to 2 times) and increase at 5-10
time the value of the first critical potential E1 (electron energy at which SEEC ≥ 1). These
results allows increase at 5 - 10 times the multipactor threshold concerning microwave
power density on the nanocarbonfilm-coated samples.
Photograph of nanocarbon film
The results of testing of onboard satellite equipment element (microwave valve) covered with nanocoating, conducted by
FERRITE DOMEN Co. (St. Petersburg), have confirmed the absence of the negative impact of coating on the radio physical
properties of treated surfaces.
Project solution advantages:
 Nanocarbon films have high adhesion ability and retain their properties on the suppression of secondary electron emission
over a long residence time in the air atmosphere;
 Method of applying allows to cover the surface by protective films in open conditions in an air atmosphere, which greatly
simplifies and reduces the cost of technology, removes the restrictions of the size of covering parts;
 Method of applying of nanostructured films does not require heating parts, which significantly expands the nomenclature of
susceptible to processing products;
 Problem of covering parts of complex configuration by nanostructured films can be solved by relatively simple means.

4. Technology includes the following stages:
 Obtaining of colloidal solution of nano-sized carbon.
The manufacturing technology of nanostructured
carbon particles is based on the excitation multispark
discharge in ethanol using a specially developed
technique and technical equipment. For
manufacturing and production of colloidal solution of
nano-sized carbon the original model of device has
been created.
 Preprocessing of metal surfaces based on a specially
developed method to provide technical possibility of
applying of nanocoatings with acceptable adhesion.
 Applying of colloidal solution of nano-sized carbon on
metal surfaces of the UHF transmission system of
spacecraft by the evaporation method or
electrophoresis.
4
3. The description of the basic Project technology:
Graphs (summary) of SEEC σ
dependency of the electron energy ε (in
eV) for the samples of aluminum and
copper with nanostructured coating 1
layer, in comparison with a SEEC of
sample of aluminum without coating, and
the sample of copper coated with soot.

5. Reducing the maximum values ​​of the secondary
electron emission coefficient by to 2 times
Process of applying a nano-carbon film does not
require the use of expensive raw materials and
equipment, it is less expensive than adopted by the
authors of analogs ($0.8-1.2 million against €3-6
million at competitors)
Application of substance may be carried out in open
conditions of air atmosphere
Size of coating Is practically unlimited (applied on the
sample 8*15 cm)
Nanocoating retains its properties during a long
residence time in an air atmosphere
4. Competitive advantages:
Photograph of nanocarbon film

6. Ways of Project commercialization:
1. Sale of licenses to use the technology;
2. Provision to consumers services of applying nanostructured coatings on metal parts of UHF transceiver tract
of spacecraft equipment;
3. Provision to consumers services for testing of components of UHF equipment on resistance to the effect of
secondary electron emission.
The market value of one apparatus complex: $0,8 - $1,15 mln.
Capacity of the Russian market of communications satellites: 13 - 25 satellites / $1430 – $2750 mln., the
price of technology realization on 1 satellite: 3 - 5% of 1 satellite cost / $28,6 – $55 mln.
Capacity of global market of communications satellites: 125 -170 satellites / $13750 - $18700 mln., the price
of technology realization on 1 satellite: 3 - 5% of 1 satellite cost / $68,7 – $93,5 mln.
Целевой рынок проекта (сегменты):
6
5. The description of Project business model:

7. Comparison of Plazma-Sk Ltd.’s solution with most similar analogues:
6. Comparison with Competitors:
Key parameters /
Solution
Plazma-Sk Ltd.
European High Power RF
Space Laboratory, ESA,
Valencia, Spain
Toulouse Space Centre
(CST), CNES, Toulouse,
France
COM DEV International
Ltd., Canada
Samples sizes UNLIMITED ≤ 1 cm2 No data No data
Period of stay in an air
atmosphere during of
which the coating
retains its properties
≥ 10 months <1 month <1 month No data
Capital intensity Low High High High
Need for expensive
equipment and special
preparation of
environment
NO
Need for expensive unit for
sublimation in a vacuum of
metal targets and applying
of film onto the elements of
microwave technique
Need for expensive unit
for sublimation in a
vacuum of metal targets
and applying of film onto
the elements of
microwave technique
Need for expensive unit
for sublimation in a
vacuum of metal targets
and applying of film onto
the elements of
microwave technique
Price ≈ €0,5-0,7 mln. €35-40 mln. > €20-30 mln. No data

8. Planned volumes of revenue by directions:
8
7. Proposal for investors:
Proposal to partners:
 Creation of joint ventures with profiled companies for
the industrialization of technology, the provision of
services to consumers for applying of nanocoatings
on metal parts of the transceiver tract of the
spacecraft microwave equipment
 The acquisition of exclusive rights to the use of
technology in the region 1 (USA): $158 mln.
Needs capital investments: $1,09 mln.
Expect to attract funding under the scheme:
 50% of the required amount - Skolkovo Foundation grant.
 50% of the required amount - co-investor funds.
 Share of investors' participation in the project: 25+%.
 Term return on investment: 4 years from the beginning of
the commercialization.
Purpose of investment:
• Development and manufacturing of prototype of apparatus complex for the technology realization (device for obtaining and
applying of initial nanosized substance)
• Adjustment of a technology, testing and approbation the prototype and technology in conditions of consumer
• Marketing activities to introduce the technology to the market

9. CURRENT STATUS:
o In 2012, the project has received Skolkovo participant status, which provided tax preferences in the
form of exemption from the duties of the taxpayer's of profit tax and VAT for a period of 10 years.
o The laboratory stand for manufacture of experimental samples of nanocoatings has been created
and tested.
o Preliminary trials of nanocoatings have been carried out, expected results have confirmed.
o Technological approaches to the preparation of nanosized substance and applying of nanocoating
have been tested in laboratory.
o PCT-applications have passed into the national phase of international patenting procedure.
o In 2016-2017, the company has planned the creation of working prototype of apparatus complex for
nanosized substance obtaining and applying of nanocoating.
8. Project current status and patenting:
Patenting:
Number Title
Russian Federation patent for the invention
№2556938, 19.06.2015
A method of producing a colloidal solution
of nanocarbon
PCT application for the invention. Priority
19.06.2013
A method of producing a colloidal solution
of nanocarbon
Russian Federation patent for the invention
№2565199 от 15.09.2015
A method for producing nanocarbon
coating and a device for its realization

10. 9. Project team Information:
Plazma-Sk Ltd. – was created for Project realization in 2012
Cossyi Igor Antonovich – d. p/m. sciences (GPI RAS), Moscow
Scientific adviser of the project
30+ years in applied research in the field of plasma physics. Participation
in projects jointly with the Eindhoven Technical University, University of
Knepper, NWO, ISTC
Barkhudarov Èduard Mikhailovich – d. p/m. sciences (GPI RAS), Moscow
Leading researcher of the project
30+ years in applied research in the field of plasma physics. Participation
in projects jointly with the Eindhoven Technical University, University of
Knepper, NWO, MSU, IAP RAS

11. 10. Contact Information:
Plazma-Sk Ltd.
410005, Russia, Saratov, Bolshaya Sadovaya, 239, office 616.
phone: (8452) 459523, 459524, 459510.
E-mail: avdvoenko@gmail.com
Alexander Dvoenko
Director