For telescopes operating in the vacuum of space, or optical equipment in extreme environments, existing coatings are often insufficient. Researchers have turned to atomic layer deposition and developed an ultrablack thin-film coating for aerospace-grade magnesium alloys.
The team used alternating layers of aluminum-doped titanium carbide and silicon nitride and together the materials prevent nearly all light from reflecting off the coated surface. The coating absorbs 99.3% of light while being durable enough to survive in harsh conditions.
"Existing black coatings like vertically aligned carbon nanotubes or black silicon are limited by fragility," said author Yunzhen Cao."It is also difficult for many other coating methods to apply coatings inside a tube or on other complicated structures. This is important for their application in optical devices as they often have significant curvature or intricate shapes."
To make their ultrablack coating, the team used alternating layers of aluminum-doped titanium carbide and silicon nitride . The two materials work together to prevent nearly all light from reflecting off the coated surface. "What's more, the film shows superb stability in adverse environments, and is tough enough to withstand friction, heat, damp conditions, and extreme temperature changes," said Cao.
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