The accident was the trigger for new experiments. Seeing the potential of this discovery, the team of scientists began testing the development of super-black materials, following a research trend that seeks out the darkest materials on Earth. In an interview with UBC Portal, Professor Evans explained that super-black materials can absorb more than 99 percent of the light that falls on them. “That’s a lot more than regular black paint, which absorbs about 97.5 percent of light,” he explained.

A more sustainable way to handle wood. The study indicates that the technology developed does not require lithography steps and does not generate liquid waste such as garbage, being more sustainable than the technologies generally used in the wood sector.

The structure of Nxylon does not change when coated. According to the team of scientists, the material remains black even when it is coated, for example, with a gold layer to enable the analysis of the super-black wood using a microscope. “This is because the Nxylon structure prevents light from escaping, relying instead on black pigments,” the study explains.

The full study was published in the journal Advanced Sustainable Systems. The research, conducted by scientists from the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry, also included experts from Texas A&M University (USA) and the Australian National University.

Possibilities of using super black wood

Astronomy and solar cells. Ultra-black materials are increasingly sought after in astronomy. This type of coating helps scatter light and improves the clarity of images taken, for example, through a telescope. According to the researchers, the property of ultra-black color could also increase the efficiency of solar cells, in addition to being used in the aerospace sector, radiation defense and in absorbing solar energy, including space sails.