The project is driven by growing demand for black vehicles in China, where black has become one of the fastest-growing automotive colors. Around 7.5 million new black vehicles are expected to enter the market this year, creating strong incentives for manufacturers to develop deeper, more practical black finishes for mass production.
Ultra-black materials based on Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube (VACNT) arrays have been studied for years because of their exceptional light absorption. The best-known example is Vantablack, developed by UK company Surrey NanoSystems in 2014. The material attracted worldwide attention and was famously showcased on a BMW X6 concept, but its fragile structure, high production cost, and difficult application process prevented widespread use on production vehicles.
The new coating developed by the Shanghai research team takes a different approach. By combining carbon nanotubes with conventional carbon-black pigments, the researchers found that pigment particles naturally align along the nanotube structure, creating microscopic peaks and valleys that trap incoming light. This hybrid structure preserves the extreme optical performance while making the material far more practical for automotive applications.
Unlike previous ultra-black coatings, the new material can be applied using standard automotive spray-painting techniques. Laboratory testing also demonstrated strong adhesion along with excellent resistance to water and humidity, suggesting improved durability for long-term use.
The researchers believe future versions could become even darker by incorporating Gradient Refractive Index Technology (GRIT), which uses layered optical structures to further reduce surface reflections and capture additional light.
Published in the journal Matter & Light, the research represents an important step toward bringing ultra-black coatings from the laboratory into large-scale vehicle manufacturing. While scientists continue to push the limits of light absorption, the new hybrid material demonstrates that extreme blackness can now be achieved with a process that is significantly more practical for the automotive industry.
According to Newatlas
