Detection of 'super dark' material, capable of absorbing 99.3% of light

The new material is called Nxylon, and the recipe was accidentally discovered by scientists when researching the topic of waterproofing wood with high-energy plasma gas.

They found that using this gas causes wood cells to turn completely black, capable of absorbing light almost completely.

Philip Evans, a materials scientist at UBC, shares that Nxylon's composition combines the benefits of natural materials with unique structural characteristics, making it light, strong and easy to cut into complex shapes. .

They are said to be able to absorb up to 99.3% of light and minimize any reflections from light. Even when coating the material with gold alloy, it remains black. The material's ability to absorb light comes from indentations on the surface.

Super black materials are valuable in many fields such as astronomy, solar energy and optics. By reducing unwanted light reflections, they help devices operate more accurately or more efficiently.

"Super" black creates a striking visual effect with sharp contrast to any other bright tones in close proximity, so this form of material is also popular in art and design.

In fact, science has previously found darker materials capable of absorbing more light than Nxylon, but the new material shows promise in its feasibility when produced on a large scale. The new material has advantages such as using renewable wood (specifically linden wood), does not require complicated pre-treatment, thereby reducing costs and making production easier. more workable material.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 06 August 2024