Science & Technology

Scientists create world's blackest material

By T.K. Randall
September 13, 2019

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) The peculiar material, which is comprised of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes grown on chlorine-etched aluminium foil, is capable of absorbing 99.995% of all incoming light.

It was created quite by accident during efforts to increase the electrical and thermal properties of carbon nanotubes by growing them on aluminium and other electrically conductive materials.

The material beats the previous record for 'blackness' held by Surrey NanoSystems for its creation known as 'Vantablack' which is able to absorb 99.96% of all light.It has since been put on display in the form of a black-coated diamond in an exhibit entitled "The Redemption of Vanity" at the New York Stock Exchange.

There are however practical uses for such a material as well.

"There are optical and space science applications for very black materials, and of course, artists have been interested in black, going back well before the Renaissance," said Prof Brian Wardle.

"Our material is 10 times blacker than anything that's ever been reported, but I think the blackest black is a constantly moving target."

Source: Engadget

Tags: Black