Hybrid mass and radiation sensor based on piezoelectric and thermoelectric effects

The deposition of contaminants onto spacecraft surfaces may have a negative impact and deposition rate is related to insolation cycles. The present work is focused on the development of a hybrid sensor of the deposited mass based on the piezoelectric effect and the energy parameters of radiation using thermoelectric principles. The design calculation of the thermoelectric part showed the possibility of providing the required responsivity with a diameter of the absorption area of 10 mm and 35 thermopiles using the combination of p-Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and n-Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition method.