Vantablack
Vantablack is an ultra-black material developed in 2014 by Surrey NanoSystems in the UK, recognized as one of the darkest artificial materials ever created. Its name derives from the acronym "vertically aligned nanotube array" (VANTA) combined with the word "black." The material is composed of carbon nanotubes that trap light, allowing only about 0.04 percent of incoming light to escape, resulting in its distinctive, deep black appearance. Initially designed for satellite calibration systems, Vantablack has expanded into various industries, including automotive and optical technologies, as well as the visual arts.
When applied to objects, Vantablack can give them an almost formless, two-dimensional look, particularly when viewed without reference points. In 2019, BMW showcased a unique Vantablack edition of its X6 SUV, although the material's safety concerns for driving, especially at night, limit its use in consumer vehicles. Surrey NanoSystems has since developed multiple Vantablack coatings, including S-VIS, S-IR, and VBx2, each designed for specific applications ranging from space to terrestrial uses. Vantablack's exceptional light absorption capabilities include ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light, enhancing its utility in various advanced technological fields.
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Vantablack
Vantablack is the brand name of an ultra-black industrial material invented in 2014 by the United Kingdom-based company Surrey NanoSystems. It uses nanotechnology to trap the light that strikes treated surfaces, allowing very little light to escape. Vantablack is marketed as the darkest industrial material ever made, and Surrey NanoSystems claims that its original Vantablack coating set an independently confirmed world record for being the darkest artificial material ever manufactured.
Initially created for use in satellite technologies, Vantablack has since been used in the automotive, imaging, and optical systems industries. Artists have also leveraged Vantablack’s unique properties and visual characteristics in their works.
Overview
The Vantablack brand name was created by adding the acronym for “vertically aligned nanotube array” (VANTA) to “black.” Surrey NanoSystems’ patented Vantablack coatings are created from networks of carbon nanotubes, which are applied to a metallic surface. A nanotube is a tubular molecule with a thickness of approximately one-billionth of a meter, which is about the same size as three naturally occurring gold atoms. When light strikes a treated surface, it becomes confined in the nanotube network. There, it ricochets around until almost all the incoming light has been absorbed. Only about 0.04 percent of the original light is able to escape, giving Vantablack a deep, extremely dark black hue.
Observers note that when viewed with no visual reference, Vantablack appears much like regular hues of black. However, when compared side-by-side with other black objects, those other black objects appear gray in color. When Vantablack is applied to all visible surfaces of a three-dimensional object, the object appears to become almost formless and two-dimensional.
Surrey NanoSystems originally developed Vantablack for the blackbody calibration systems found in near-Earth satellites. Blackbody calibration systems are used to configure the sensors used in infrared temperature measurement equipment. Surrey NanoSystems later developed several spray-applied Vantablack coatings with even darker visual characteristics than the company originally achieved. Vantablack has since found additional applications in automotive sensory equipment, optical system technologies, and the visual arts.
In 2019, the German automaker BMW unveiled a special one-of-a-kind Vantablack edition of its X6 luxury crossover sports utility vehicle. The automobile was billed as the first car ever to feature a Vantablack exterior. However, as automotive industry experts note, Vantablack creates safety hazards, especially with regard to nighttime driving. It is therefore not expected to become widely used in passenger automobiles.
As of 2024, Surrey NanoSystems has created three different Vantablack coatings: S-VIS, S-IR, and VBx2. Vantablack S-VIS maintains its performance characteristics in ultraviolet terahertz (UV-THz) conditions, making it suitable for space applications. Vantablack S-IR can be used in space for blackbody applications, and Vantablack VBx2 is exclusively designed for use on Earth. In addition to ultra-low light-reflecting properties that persist across all viewing angles, Vantablack also absorbs ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) light. Its UV light absorption properties begin around wavelengths of 200 nanometers (nm) and carry into the far IR spectrum to light wavelengths exceeding 600 microns.
Bibliography
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“Black Beast: Vantablack Light-Absorbing Paint Meets BMW.” BMW, 29 Aug. 2019, www.bmw.com/en/design/the-bmw-X6-vantablack-car.html. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.
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Liszewski, Andrew. “Drop This Watch Covered in the World’s Blackest Paint at Night and You May Never Find It Again.” Gizmodo, 4 Apr. 2022, gizmodo.com/drop-this-watch-covered-in-the-worlds-blackest-paint-at-1848744915. Accessed 12 Mar. 2023.
O’Neill, Rebecca. “12 Things You Should Know About Vantablack Car Paint.” Hotcars, 10 Mar. 2023, www.hotcars.com/vantablack-car-paint-facts/. Accessed 12 Mar. 2023.
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“What Is Vantablack?” Surrey NanoSystems, 2024, www.surreynanosystems.com/about/vantablack. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.