Vantablack

Vantablack
Surrey NanoSystems · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Vantablack
Other names	Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Array

Vantablack. It is a substance developed by Surrey NanoSystems in the United Kingdom and is renowned as one of the darkest artificial materials ever created. The name is an acronym for Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Array. This material's extreme light-absorbing properties have attracted significant interest from scientific, aerospace, and artistic communities, leading to both groundbreaking applications and notable public controversies.

Overview

Vantablack is a synthetic material consisting of a dense forest of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. When light strikes the surface, it becomes trapped and is continually deflected between the tubes, eventually being absorbed as heat. This process allows it to absorb up to 99.965% of incident visible light, making three-dimensional objects coated in it appear as flat, two-dimensional black voids. Its initial development was supported by grants from the UK Space Agency and was aimed at preventing stray light from interfering with sensitive optical systems in space.

Development and production

The material was pioneered by researchers at Surrey NanoSystems, a company spun out from the University of Surrey. Key development work occurred at their facilities in Newhaven, East Sussex. The production process typically involves using a chemical vapor deposition technique to grow the nanotubes on substrates such as aluminium foil. Early commercial production was scaled up following a 2014 announcement, with significant interest from entities like the European Space Agency for use in instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope and various satellite systems. Subsequent versions, including Vantablack S-VIS, simplified the application process to a sprayable coating.

Properties and characteristics

The primary property of Vantablack is its phenomenal absorbance across a wide spectrum, from ultraviolet through visible light and into far-infrared wavelengths. This characteristic is quantified by its total hemispherical reflectance. The structure of the carbon nanotubes also provides exceptional thermal stability, with the material able to withstand temperatures up to approximately 750 degrees Celsius in a vacuum. It is also highly resistant to vibration and shock, properties rigorously tested for the harsh environment of outer space. Furthermore, it exhibits superior heat dissipation capabilities compared to other coatings.

Applications

Initial and primary applications are in aerospace and defense technology. It is used to coat internal components of telescopes, such as baffles and apertures, to reduce scattered light and improve the clarity of images from stars and distant galaxies. Military applications include its use on stealth technology for reducing the optical and infrared signature of equipment. Beyond these fields, it has been utilized in architectural projects for dramatic aesthetic effect and in luxury goods, such as high-end watches from brands like MCT Watches. Scientific uses include improving the accuracy of spectrometers and calibration targets.

Controversies and cultural impact

A major controversy arose when Anish Kapoor, the sculptor famous for works like Cloud Gate in Chicago, secured exclusive artistic rights to use Vantablack. This move, facilitated by Surrey NanoSystems, sparked significant backlash within the art world, notably from other artists like Stuart Semple. In response, Semple developed and publicly released alternative ultra-black paints, such as Black 3.0, which he explicitly banned Kapoor from using. The dispute highlighted tensions over material monopolies in art and was widely covered in media outlets like The Guardian and BBC News. The material's eerie, void-like appearance has also influenced popular culture, featuring in discussions about the nature of perception and in productions by filmmakers like Christopher Nolan.

Category:Chemical substances Category:Optical materials Category:British inventions