Most black material in the world does not sink in water, aluminum wheels

Two years ago, Surrey NanoSystems created nanotubes from the darkest material on Earth, which was named Vantablack (Vertically Aligned NanoTube Arrays). This material is the lowest reflectance was recorded among all the other well-known dark materials - all 0, 036%. To demonstrate the properties Vantablack its creators have removed the video clip with a laser pointer. The spot of light that passes through the surface of the material, simply disappears. All this looks like a black hole in miniature.




Already this year, the specialists of the same company introduced a new version of Vantablack, Vantablack 2. His reflection coefficient is not reported - simply because the sensitivity of modern spectrometers is too small. As a result, the reflection coefficient is unknown - it is not equal to zero, it is impossible, but is committed to him.

Such material may simply be a gift for the military - because it absorbs light, ultraviolet light, infrared radiation. Military using Vantablack 2 can create "heat camouflage" to disguise its equipment. Also it can be used in science and technology - in particular, for the calibration of optical equipment, to prevent diffusion of light in telescopes, improving IR cameras operating on Earth and in space

. Material may also be used in thermal protection systems, and as a coating of tiny elements of various components and MEMS devices. Perhaps some accessories covered in this material are popular among wealthy people.

The material does not reflect light - this is may be all the rage! Interestingly, the scientists who created vantablack, forbidden to talk to journalists on the potential military use of their material, and the price of it, they also refused to voice, limiting the phrase "it is very expensive».

Earlier interest in the material expressed by sculptor Anish Kapoor. He also became the first representative of the world of art, received the right to use such material. Thus Kapoor received the exclusive right to use Vantablack 2, which is not too happy about the sculptor colleagues.

Now Vantablack already used in the art. In particular, this material going to cover even hoodies. Although, judging by what they say about the price of 2 Vantablack its creators, such clothing is not just expensive, but very expensive.



The coating on the aluminum Vantablack 2

Interestingly, that developers do not report detailed information on the process of creating Vantablack 2, known only to that used as the basis of nanotubes grown at 430ºC temperature chamber Chemical Vapour Deposition. The material is made up of millions of nanotubes about 20 nanometers thick. It is 3500 times smaller than the diameter of human hair - between 14 and 50 microns

. It is estimated that 1 cm2 surface covered Vantablack 2, it contains about a billion nanotubes. Absolute black effect is created because light enters the tubes between the reflected therebetween and can not escape. To understand the situation, scientists propose to imagine a situation where you walk through the forest, where the trees height is at 10-20 meters and 3 km and more. The lower tier of the forest to see the sunlight will not be at all.

Now the developers have submitted a new video featuring their material. Video strange, because here on the surface of the water floats the aluminum disk. Yes, we've learned that things are denser than water sink, but here it's different. Surrey Nanosystems demonstrate extreme hydrophobicity Vantablack 2. The disc easily floats on the water surface, and when it is removed, it is completely dry. This material property is due to the fact that it has an extremely low surface energy. In combination with a large surface of the disc it helps him to stay on the water.

It is worth noting also that if a person looks at Vantablack 2, he does not perceive an object with such a coating, as something material. Instead, the brain tells us that it is a failure in the blackness, nothingness.

Yet this is not a black body, as mentioned above, although the extent of absorption of electromagnetic radiation of certain types of material, and is committed to 100%. Absolutely black body - physical body at any temperature absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation on it in all ranges. Thus, for blackbody absorption capacity (the ratio of energy absorbed to the incident radiation energy) is equal to 1 when the radiation of all frequencies, the propagation directions and polarizations. Despite the name, black body itself can emit electromagnetic radiation of any frequency, and have a color visually. The spectrum of blackbody radiation is determined only by its temperature.