AME - 3D Printing Ultrablack Materials
Materials that efficiently absorb visible light are important for many technologies,
including stray light control in telescopes and avoiding optical detection in surveillance
technologies. One effective strategy for absorbing light is to create surfaces with
microstructures that prevent light from escaping (similar to how a cave looks black when
you look at it). In this project, we would like to pursue the use of 3D printing to create
molds from which we can create flexible, ultrablack materials. The primary
responsibilities on this project will be: 1) to design 3D mold structures with computer
aided design, 2) fabricate the mold structures with different 3D printing technologies, 3)
use the molds to cast flexible, ultrablack materials, and 4) work with graduate students
to characterize the optical performance.
including stray light control in telescopes and avoiding optical detection in surveillance
technologies. One effective strategy for absorbing light is to create surfaces with
microstructures that prevent light from escaping (similar to how a cave looks black when
you look at it). In this project, we would like to pursue the use of 3D printing to create
molds from which we can create flexible, ultrablack materials. The primary
responsibilities on this project will be: 1) to design 3D mold structures with computer
aided design, 2) fabricate the mold structures with different 3D printing technologies, 3)
use the molds to cast flexible, ultrablack materials, and 4) work with graduate students
to characterize the optical performance.
Name of research group, project, or lab
Rosenberger Group
Why join this research group or lab?
Our lab characterizes and manipulates materials at the micro- and nano-scales to understand and engineer material properties. In this particular project, we are using microstructure to control light absorption.