Our Technology
VORTEX (VO₂-Regulated Thermal Exchange) is a multilayer, biohybrid thermal smart skin that combines three cutting-edge material classes to deliver fully passive, adaptive thermal control. It integrates a Vanadium Dioxide (VO₂) thermochromic radiator, a tardigrade-derived protein matrix, and a phase-change microcapsule buffer, all built onto a flexible, space-qualified substrate. It’s like a super powered, faux active system, passive system. Let's delve deeper into how each layer works and how it's designed.
1. Encapsulation Layer
A 20–50 µm silicone or polyimide binder cushions the active layers, ensures vacuum compatibility, and retains flexibility down to –150 °C.
2. PCM + Tardigrade Protein Hydrogel Matrix
1–10 µm vitrified layer of tardigrade proteins and trehalose stabilizes underlying materials while a 50–100 µm layer of silica encapsulated paraffin waxes (PCM) buffers thermal surges before VO₂ activation.
3. Heat Spreading Substrate
A 10–30 µm high-conductivity epoxy layer with matched CTE prevents delamination and ensures efficient heat transfer across extreme thermal cycles.
4. Vanadium Dioxide Coating
A thermochromic 40–60 nm VO₂ film, tuned via doping and backed by a Fabry–Pérot cavity, passively switches emissivity near 67 °C to modulate radiative heat loss.
Putting it all together
Together, these seven layers form a seamless, self‑regulating thermal skin. A pinhole‑free outer shield resisting atomic oxygen and UV, a zero‑power VO₂ radiator that toggles emissivity on demand, a conductive, compliant adhesive, a biologically inspired glassy matrix, latent‑heat microcapsules, a flexible polymer binder, and a space‑qualified structural backbone.
Each layer is optimized for thermal performance, mechanical integrity, and long‑term stability, enabling modern smallsat swarms and next‑generation high‑performance platforms to smooth out temperature extremes and extend operational lives by mitigating the typical 20–40 % lifespan losses driven by overheating.
These layers enable autonomous heat regulation without power or moving parts, offering a lightweight, scalable solution for next-generation spacecraft thermal management.
For an in-depth dive into this, check out this article!