Print Page | Send to Friend | Site Map

Science Blog ZINC PROJECTS

Metal alchemy

Date: 04-Feb-08
Author: University of Rochester

Using a tabletop laser, University of Rochester optical scientists have turned pure aluminum, gold.

And blue. And gray. And many other colors. And it works for every metal tested, including platinum, titanium, tungsten, silver, and gold.

Gold Aluminum, Blue Titanium, Gold Platinum. Courtesy: Richard Baker, University of Rochester.

Researcher Chunlei Guo believes it's possible to alter the properties of any metal to turn it any color -- even multi-colored iridescence like a butterfly's wings. Since the process changes the intrinsic surface properties of the metal itself and is not just a coating, the color won't fade or peel.

Guo and his assistant, Anatoliy Vorobeyv, use an incredibly brief but incredibly intense laser burst that changes the surface of a metal, forming nanoscale and microscale structures that selectively reflect a certain color to give the appearance of a specific color or combinations of colors.

Full story: Researchers Create Gold Aluminum, Black Platinum, Blue Silver