Scientists from Cornell University have created a revolutionary material that absorbs almost all incident light, surpassing all existing analogues in blackness. The inspiration for this technology came from the structure of bird-of-paradise feathers. While traditional “ultrablack” materials reflect less than 0.5% of light, the new invention demonstrates only 0.13% reflection, making it the blackest material in history. This ability to absorb light opens up broad prospects for its use in optical instruments (telescopes, cameras) to improve image quality, as well as for increasing the efficiency of solar cells.
The secret to the blackness of bird-of-paradise feathers lies in the combination of melanin pigment and the microscopic structure of the feathers. Tiny grooves on the feather surface repeatedly refract light, allowing melanin to absorb its energy. Researchers have successfully replicated this principle by treating wool fabric with polydopamine (a melanin analogue) and then creating microscopic protrusions on the fiber surface that mimic the natural structure. The resulting fabric not only possesses record-breaking blackness but also retains it at any angle, which is a significant advantage. This development promises to be an important step in the advancement of technologies requiring maximum light absorption.
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