New nano material a black hole for reflections.

Silica nanorods make a super dark surface.: This SEM image shows the silica nanorods mounted at exactly 45 degrees which makes the surface super anti-reflective.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a material that reflects virtually no light. By depositing layers of silica nanorods at an angle of 45 degrees on top of a thin film of aluminum nitride, a new world record has been set for anti-reflective surfacing.

The technique allows the researchers to strongly reduce or even eliminate reflection at all wavelengths and incoming angles of light, Schubert said. Conventional anti-reflection coatings, although widely used, work only at a single wavelength and when the light source is positioned directly perpendicular to the material. PhysOrg.com

Where will this make a difference?

The new optical coating could find use in just about any application where light travels into or out of a material, such as:

• More efficient solar cells
• Brighter LEDs
• High-reflectance mirrors
• Black body radiation
• Optical interconnects (photonics)

RPI press release here:

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute press release