Image by Skylar Kang via Pexels | Not representative
Researchers at Cornell University developed a new way to produce ultrablack fabric that reflects an average of just 0.13% of incoming light, making it the darkest textile reported to date. Ultrablack materials reflect less than 0.5% of incoming light, so they absorb almost all visible light and appear nearly completely black. Because of this, they are used in technologies such as cameras, telescopes and solar thermal systems, where reducing unwanted reflections is important. According to a study published in Nature Communications, the new fabric also stays breathable, flexible and consistently black even when viewed from different angles.
Many ultrablack materials available today are expensive to make, require complex manufacturing methods or are not suitable for clothing. Some also appear less black when viewed from an angle.
To address these challenges, the Cornell team turned to nature for inspiration. Many animals use different colors in their skin, scales or feathers to attract mates or avoid predators. One of them is the magnificent riflebird, a member of the bird-of-paradise family found in New Guinea and Australia. The bird's feathers combine melanin, the natural pigment that gives color to skin, hair and feathers, with tiny microscopic structures that trap incoming light, giving the feathers their distinctive ultrablack appearance.
