Vantablack

Vantablack is a class of super-black coatings with total hemispherical reflectances (THR) below 1% in the visible spectrum. The name is a combination of the acronym VANTA (vertically aligned nanotube arrays) and the shade black. The original Vantablack coating was grown from a chemical vapour deposition process (CVD) and is claimed to be the "world's darkest material", absorbing up to 99.965% of visible light measured perpendicular to the material. The coatings are unique in that they are super-black and retain uniform light absorption from almost all viewing angles. Original CVD Vantablack is no longer manufactured for commercial applications as it has been superseded by Vantablack spray coatings that offer similar optical performance in key parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Ben Jensen, founder and CTO of Surrey NanoSystems, invented the coatings, which were publicly unveiled in July 2014, and eventually commercialized by the scientific team from Surrey NanoSystems. Early development occurred at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK; the term "Vanta" was coined later in its development. The Vantablack name is trademarked by Surrey NanoSystems Limited, and is referenced in three patents registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Vantablack coatings are very costly, and Surrey NanoSystems refuses to supply them to private individuals and provides samples only for applications they deem "valid". Several other firms also distribute vertically aligned nanotube arrays, including NanoLab, Santa Barbara Infrared and others. The first orders were delivered in July 2014. In 2015, production was scaled up to meet demand in the aerospace and defense sectors. Controversy arose when Surrey Nanosystems granted Anish Kapoor exclusive rights to use Vantablack in artistic applications. Many artists voiced opposition to his monopoly over the substance. In response, Nanolab, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based carbon nanotube manufacturer, partnered with Boston artist Jason Chase to release a nanotube-based black paint called Singularity Black.