Super-black wood inventedFriday 16 Aug 2024
Professor Philip Evans and PhD student Kenny Cheng were experimenting with high-energy plasma to make wood more water-repellent. However, when they applied the technique to the cut ends of wood cells, the surfaces turned extremely black. Measurements by Texas A&M University’s department of physics and astronomy confirmed that the material reflected less than 1% of visible light, absorbing almost all the light that struck it. Instead of discarding this accidental finding, the team decided to shift their focus to designing super-black materials, contributing a new approach to the search for the darkest materials on Earth. “Ultra-black or super-black material can absorb more than 99% of the light that strikes it – significantly more so than normal black paint, which absorbs about 97.5% of light,” explained Dr. Evans, a professor in the faculty of forestry and BC Leadership Chair in Advanced Forest Products Manufacturing Technology. The UBC-developed super-black wood inherently prevents light from escaping rather than depending on black pigments. Super-black materials are increasingly sought after in astronomy, where ultra-black coatings on devices help reduce stray light and improve image clarity. Super-black coatings can enhance the efficiency of solar cells. They are also used in making art pieces and luxury consumer items like watches. The researchers have developed prototype commercial products using their super-black wood, initially focusing on watches and jewellery, with plans to explore other commercial applications in the future. More >> Source & image credit: University of British Columbia  | ||
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