World's blackest material now available in spray cans

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Apr 06 2017 | 4:49 PM IST
The world's darkest material - capable of absorbing 99.96 per cent of ultraviolet, visible and infrared light - is now available in a spray-on form, which can make any 3D object look like a flat black void.
The material, called Vantablack, was first created by researchers in 2014.
Since its initial development, researchers have increased the material's blackness. The material was so black no spectrometer was able to measure how much light Vantablack absorbs, according to the researchers.
The new variation, known as Vantablack S-VIS, is available in a spray-on form that blocks 99.8 per cent of ultraviolet, visible and infrared light - enough to make an otherwise detailed 3D object appear as a flat black void.
It is not a paint, pigment or fabric, but a special coating designed to achieve a near total lack of reflectance, according to Surrey NanoSystems, the UK-based company that produces Vantablack.
Vantablack achieves its supreme blackness through millions of carbon nanotubes, the 'Live Science' reported.
Each nanotube of the coating is around 20 nanometres in diameter - about 3,500 times smaller than the width of a human hair - and around 14 microns to 50 microns long. This amounts to about one billion nanotubes on a surface area of one centimetre square.
When light hits this nanotube "forest," it enters the microscopic spaces amid the tubes and is rapidly absorbed as it bounces between them. The almost perfectly black, light-void surface is created because of the material's near-total lack of reflectance.
Vantablack may have a diverse range of applications including high-performance infrared cameras, sensors, scientific instruments, satellite-borne calibration sources, and even to provide a unique aesthetic effect in certain high-end luxury products.
Its ability to absorb light energy and convert it to heat is also of relevance in solar power development.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Apr 06 2017 | 4:49 PM IST

Next Story