Canadian researchers discover super-black wood
A Canadian research team has accidentally developed a super black wood that absorbs almost 100% of light. This groundbreaking discovery could revolutionize the efficiency of solar cells and the design of luxury goods.
A team led by Professor Philip Evans and doctoral student Kenny Cheng from the University of British Columbia made an astonishing discovery during an experiment to produce water-repellent wood: super-black wood. This material absorbs almost all of the light that strikes it, significantly outperforming the light absorption of normal black paint.
“Ultra-black or super-black material can absorb more than 99 percent of the light that hits it – significantly more than normal black paint, which absorbs about 97.5 percent of the light,” explains Professor Evans. In collaboration with Texas A&M University, they confirmed that the new material, which they named Nxylon, reflects less than one percent of visible light.
The properties of Nxylon
Nxylon, named after the Greek goddess of the night Nyx and the Greek word for wood, Xylon, is made from North American linden wood and can also be made from European linden wood. The material does not require pigments to create its deep black color, but uses its unique structure to capture light and prevent reflections. This property makes it an ideal candidate for various applications that require high light absorption.
Potential applications in various industries
The exceptional ability to absorb light opens up numerous application possibilities. Nxylon could increase the efficiency of solar cells by absorbing more sunlight. In astronomy, super-black materials could improve image sharpness by minimizing scattered light. The discovery offers a sustainable and luxurious alternative to expensive and rare black woods such as ebony. It could also serve as a substitute for the black gemstone onyx in jewelry.
Commercialization and future plans
Dr. Evans and his team plan to establish a start-up company, Nxylon Corporation of Canada, to commercialize the material. They would like to work with jewelers, artists and designers to develop various products. There are also plans to build a commercial plasma reactor to produce larger quantities of the material.
“Nxylon can be made from sustainable and renewable materials that are widely available in North America and Europe, leading to new applications for wood. The wood industry in British Columbia is often seen as a declining industry that focuses on standard products – our research shows its great untapped potential,” emphasizes Dr. Evans.
The discovery could therefore not only revolutionize the solar energy and luxury goods industries, but also provide new impetus for the wood industry.