Engineers at Cornell University have created the blackest fabric ever, which absorbs 99.87% of all light that illuminates its surface.
As , to create something ultra-black, you can’t simply dip the material in paint, magic happens. It is necessary manipulate the structure of a material on a nanoscopic scale so that it captures as much light as possible.
That’s what researchers did in a study last week in Nature Communications.
The engineers began by dyeing a white merino wool knit fabric with a synthetic melanin polymer called polydopamine. Then, the material was placed in a plasma chamber and structures called nanofibrils were recorded – essentially, tiny fibers that trap light.
“Light basically bounces back and forth between the fibrilsinstead of being reflected outwards – it is This is what creates the ultra-black effect.”explained, to Science Alert, Hansadi Jayamahafiber scientist and designer, who led the investigation.
The structure was inspired by the magnificent rifle bird (Ptiloris grandiose). Originally from Papua New Guinea and northern Australia, the male mockingbird is known for its iridescent blue-green breasts contrasted with ultra-black feathers on other parts of the body.
Magnificent rifle bird (Ptiloris magnificus)
However, the new material overcomes the bird’s natural ultrablackness.
For example, the bird is blacker when viewed from the front, but becomes reflective from an angle. The material, on the other hand, maintains its light-absorbing powers when viewed from up to 60 degrees to either side.
This tissue is not limited to the laboratory: Zoe Alvareza fashion design student at Cornell University, created a dress from gradually darker material, culminating in ultra-black fabric surrounding a blue-green central highlight that pays homage to the rifle bird.
Dress designed by Zoe Alvarez partially made with the blackest fabric ever (the dark black border around the blue).
