Shades of the Future

INTRODUCTION

Ultralight plasmonic structural color paint

Color in our everyday lives

This study highlights the significant role of color in people's lives and industries, particularly in paint production. However, conventional paints are mainly composed of toxic materials and easily deteriorate under extreme weather conditions, posing a threat to the environment and health.

To address this issue, the study proposes exploring the concept of structural color in nature and applying it to create a more resilient and eco-friendly paint formulation. This involves engineering nanostructures to produce pigments that are more saturated and efficient, resulting in a lightweight and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional paint.

Taking inspiration from nature

Each organism present has unique ways of manufacturing color. An example of this is structural color, which uses microscopic topography to produce long-lasting, dazzling hues without the use of pigments. This is a result of gradual changes over millions of years, brought about by evolution, with each organism using structural coloring to adapt and survive. This can be found in peacock feathers, beetle shells, butterfly wings, and many others.

The chemistry of plasmonic paint

This new paint doesn't use pigments but instead arranges nanoparticles of colorless metals like aluminum and aluminum oxide to create structural color. The paint contains aluminum flakes with small clusters of aluminum atoms, which vibrate and resonate when exposed to white light, producing a single color that depends on the size of the nanoparticle. This happens because the free electrons in metallic materials cause the nanoparticles to oscillate, returning light as a single visible color.

How light travels in the paint

This project uses plasmonic nanoparticles that support LSPRs (localized surface plasmon resonances). These oscillations of electrons generate strong electric fields that can interact with molecules and other particles, improving light absorption, scattering, and emission. By implementing these particles on a surface, it creates a controlled interaction with light, which could lead to ultralight plasmonic paint that minimizes weight by altering how light interacts with the surface.

LIGHTENS AIRCRAFT LOAD

from 500 kg to 1.3 kg

Planes have normally has 600-1,200 lbs of paint applied to it. If structural paint is used instead, this amount could be decreased by approximately a hundred times, which could allow the aircraft to accommodate more passengers, baggage, and cargo. To give a perspective, a Boeing 747 needs 500 kilograms of paint while this experimental paint only needs a mere 1.3 kilograms (Whitney, 2023). Reducing an aircraft’s weight can also improve fuel efficiency and save millions of dollars for the airline.

A LONG LASTING SOLUTION

from 15 yrs to 50+ yrs

Traditional pigments used in paint can break down over time when exposed to sunlight, leading to fading or discoloration of the painted object. However, the type of paint being discussed here - which uses structural color produced by nanoparticles - is different. It is believed that this paint may last much longer than traditional pigment-based paint due to the stability of the nanoparticle arrangement. In fact, it is possible that objects painted with this type of paint could retain their color for decades without needing to be repainted.

REDUCES CITY HEAT

from 37°C to 21°C

Another exclusive property of this paint is its inability to absorb infrared radiation, unlike traditional paints which trap heat. This can lead to surfaces being 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than normal. Consequently, this keeps buildings cooler without the need for indoor cooling, saving considerable amounts of energy. A widespread use of this paint in cities could potentially lead to the local climate of the area decreasing in temperature, mitigating the “urban heat island” effect that plague many urban areas worldwide.

see the showcases

Size Comparison

See how much plasmonic paint can cover a Toyota Fortuner and a Boeing 747.

Mini Painting

View a miniature plasmonic paint "Impression, Sunrise" and compare them with other objects.

Behind the Scenes

Get a deep dive into the paint's molecular makeup.

Our Team

Annika Bamboa

Annika is the leader of our project on the lightest paint on earth. She spearheaded the project with a will for leadership. She loves to read books and watch movies in her free time.

Revyel Rodriguez

The main coder of the website (99% of it), and also helped in the content. Likes science, gaming, literature, and TV shows, and deleting 170k lines of code.

Lavinia Elizan

An avid writer and sports player. Wrote the content for the write-up. Sometimes wears a pair of shades.

Rhyss Lopez

Co-coder and content writer. Laid back, to the point that it's somewhat detrimental and overthinks a lot. Likes gaming, literature, and non-violent voilence.

Merielle Cocjin

Merielle is mainly the board designer of the group. Even when faced with difficult situations, she chooses to persevere and give it her best shot. She likes to draw and watch movies on her free time.

Knight Arensol

Likes to make 3D models, hence why he is the one who made all the renders and models in the websites. In his free time, he chills out or plays random games.

SHADES OF THE FUTURE

The paint in the world