Imagine a cloak that makes you nearly invisible at night or even in space! 🛸 Well, a team of brilliant scientists from Nanjing University in east China just brought us a step closer to that sci-fi dream. They've developed a skin-like metamaterial that offers stealth capabilities in both visible and infrared light. How cool is that? 😲
Stealth technology isn't just for superheroes and secret agents. It's crucial for camouflage in dark environments and outer space. But here's the challenge: to be invisible in both visible and infrared bands, a material needs to absorb lots of visible light (so it blends into the darkness) and emit very little infrared radiation (so it doesn't show up on thermal cameras). 🕶️🔥
So, how did they do it? The team used something called bottom-up template-assisted self-assembly processes (fancy, right?) to create a unique 3D structure based on gold nanoparticles assembled into hollow pillars (they call it NPAHP). This metamaterial has an amazingly high absorptivity (0.947) in the visible band and super low emissivity (just 0.074 in mid-wave and 0.045 in long-wave infrared). Basically, it's a stealth ninja suit for technology! 🥷✨
But wait, there's more! 🌟 With a thickness measured in micrometers and tiny holes throughout, this material is like a second skin. It's super flexible and breathable, meaning it can cling closely to all sorts of surfaces—even the human body. Imagine the possibilities for wearable tech or advanced camouflage gear! 🤖👕
The mastermind behind this innovation is Professor Zhu Jia from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Nanjing University. The team's groundbreaking findings were published in the journal Science Advances in June. Keep an eye out—this could change the game for stealth technology! 🚀
Reference(s):
Chinese researchers find new breakthrough in stealth material
cgtn.com
