An accidental discovery has led researchers at the University of British Columbia to create a super-black material that absorbs more than 99% of all light. The discovery was made by UBC Professor Philip Evans and PhD student Kenny Cheng while experimenting with high-energy plasma on wood.
The team has named and trademarked the new material Nxylon—a combination of Nyx, Greek goddess of the night, and xylon, a word for wood. The material, made from renewable resources, remains black even when coated because Nxylon’s structure “inherently prevents light from escaping rather than depending on black pigments,” according to ScienceDaily. Potential applications include in jewelry and in movie theatres.
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