UBC

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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British Columbia is investing $2 million to create a cutting-edge battery innovation centre in the Okanagan. The facility, strategically located at UBC Okanagan, will focus on developing new battery technologies, aiming to improve energy density and safety while reducing costs. The centre will use locally sourced materials and house a 2,000-square-foot pilot pouch cell facility to produce commercial-scale pouch cells for medical and other applications.

“People and industry are increasingly relying on battery-powered devices for cellphones, electric vehicles, medical equipment, and more,” stated Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “This project will see multiple benefits.”

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