Scientists create darkest material

January 14, 2008

A scientist at a Houston university has created the darkest known material -- about four times darker than the previous record holder.

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Pulickel Ajayan, a professor of engineering at Rice University, created a carpet of carbon nanotubes that reflects 0.045 percent light, making it 100 times darker than a black-painted Corvette, the Houston Chronicle reported Monday.

Please, read the following story for pictures and more details on this research: http://www.physorg … 0227809.html

"The final numbers, when we measured how dark this material was, were more dramatic than we thought," Ajayan said.

Ajayan said the material, which has been submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records, may have some practical applications. He said the material's ability to absorb light could be beneficial to solar panels and it also minimizes the scattering of light, making it a potential boon to telescope manufacturers.

The previous darkest known material, a nickel and phosphorus alloy created by scientists in London, reflected about 0.16 percent of light.

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earls
Jan 14, 2008

Rank: 1 / 5 (1)

Black Corvettes literally only reflect 4.5 percent of light?! Talk about hot cars indeed.

Ok, so black (dark) materials absorb visible, uv and convert it to infrared? I'd guess some radio too? A spectrum barrier of sorts?

Paradox
Jan 15, 2008

Rank: 4 / 5 (1)

Hmmmm.... possibilities for solar cells?

HeRoze
Jan 15, 2008

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If it works for the visible spectrum, it would seem that with some modifications of the nanotube structure it could also absorb other frequencies. This could be utilized in UV and IR (very close in frequency) counter measures as well as provide isolation on higher frequency transmission antennas, such as L-Band (not so close in frequecy, so the physical size may not be practical).

ShadowRam
Jan 15, 2008

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drop the spectrum enough amd it a RADAR absorbing material... making it invisible...

Also it could absorb laser light, also making it un-tractable to laser-guided devices,

SLam_to
Jan 15, 2008

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)

Goths are rejoycing! Just kidding, it will be great for optics since it'll cut down on scattering of stray light and improve contrast.

googleplex
Jan 15, 2008

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Where does the photon energy go and what is the physics model?
Is it a case of the frequency of the photon resonating with the outer electrons in the material and being transmuted 100% into thermal energy. Or is the photoelectric effect however as the material has high resistance so electric potential generates heat. Where do the photons go and by what process?

quantum_flux
Jan 15, 2008

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What am I going to do, not comment on this!? That is awesome!

Corvidae
Jan 15, 2008

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The photons get absorbed (by the electron), the electrons jump to a higher energy state, then drop back down and emit a lower frequency photon, the loss in energy translates into heating of the molecule. The wider the range of frequencies the molecule absorbs, the more energy it will end up absorbing as heat.

The photo electric effect actually frees the electron so it creates a positive charge on the surface of the material. The ability to eject an electron is determined by the frequency of the photon, not the number of photons. Brighter light just heats the material more, it doesn't cause a charge. Most materials won't start ejecting electrons until frequencies hit the x-ray range.

nilbud
Jan 15, 2008

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It can't be as dark as priests socks.

extracool
Jan 15, 2008

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if the nano tubes are perpendicular to the surface, like strands of a carpet. It could work like a camera or an eye, light goes into a small hole of a black cavity and very little comes back out.

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4.2 /5 (98 votes)

Scientists create darkest material

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