The world’s whitest paint has been created by a team of researchers at Purdue University’s School of Mechanical Engineering, and it could revolutionize the energy industry. In 2020, the team created an ultra-white paint that reflected 95.5% of the light that hit it, but they didn’t stop there.

Their latest version, made with hexagonal boron nitride, is even whiter, reflecting 97.9% of light while also being thinner and lighter. Its high reflectivity means that it can cool surfaces more than 4.5°C (40.1°F) below the surrounding temperature without the need for energy.

The application of this paint on roofs can generate a cooling power of 10 kilowatts, surpassing the output of air conditioners commonly used in households. Furthermore, it aids in reducing energy consumption and curbing greenhouse gas emissions, as it reflects heat back into space, preventing atmospheric heat from worsening global warming.

While the previous version of the paint required a thickness of at least 400 microns to achieve radiative cooling below ambient temperature, the new paint only needs to be 150 microns thick. It is also 80% lighter, making it an ideal solution for applications with precise size and weight requirements.

The possibilities for this paint are endless, and the researchers have already been contacted by companies that make clothes and shoes, as well as architects and spacecraft manufacturers.

The paint is not yet commercially available, but the crew is working towards that. In the meantime, its potential impact on the environment is impressive. Professor Xiulun Ruan, who led the team, stated that using this paint could reduce the need for air conditioning.

This would save money and reduce energy usage, ultimately leading to fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, its ability to radiate heat into deep space directly cools down our planet, making it a pretty amazing paint indeed.

In conclusion, the world’s whitest paint has the potential to be a game-changer in the energy industry. Its high reflectivity and ability to radiate heat back into space could reduce the need for air conditioning and decrease greenhouse gas emissions, making it a valuable tool in the fight against climate change.

The researchers’ work has opened up new possibilities for using materials in innovative ways to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.