In one aspect, a method for manufacturing a lattice structure for use as a propulsion catalyst includes: (a) providing a powder bed of one or more metal powder materials, (b) heating a portion of the powder bed to a temperature sufficient to melt the one or more metal powder materials, (c) forming a layer of the lattice structure, wherein the layer is formed by melting the one or more metal powder materials in a predefined pattern, (d) constructing the lattice structure, wherein the lattice structure is constructed by repeating steps (a)-(c) for each of a plurality of layers of the lattice structure until the lattice structure is constructed, and (e) removing excess materials from the constructed lattice structure.