Scientists from the University of Central Florida have created the world’s lightest paint, 1400 grams of which can cover a Boeing 747. The study was published in the journal Science Advances.
Inspired by butterfly wings, the new plasmonic dye is not made of pigment. Instead, the color is determined by the arrangement of the nanoparticles. According to scientists, only 1.4 kg of plasmonic paint will be required to coat the Boeing 747, instead of 454 kg of conventional commercial paint. This makes the plasmonic dye the lightest dye in the world.
Paint reflects the entire infrared spectrum, so less heat is absorbed. Surfaces under the new paint stay 13 to 16 degrees Celsius cooler than those coated with regular commercial paint, the researchers say. This feature will save on air conditioning costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Currently, pigment-based paints require certain molecules to create color. Each color needs its own molecule. Plasmon dye uses nanoparticles of two colorless materials – aluminum and aluminum oxide. By placing them differently on an oxide-coated aluminum mirror, you can control how light is dispersed, reflected, or absorbed. The color of butterfly wings is formed in a similar way.
The scientists noted that the color of ordinary paint fades over time because the pigment loses its ability to absorb photons. Plasmon paint will be able to preserve its properties for centuries. Currently, physicists have only taken small amounts of dye in the lab and are now scaling up production.