Black pigments are widely used in various applications to color objects black by absorbing visible light and to conceal structural components. However, many kinds of black pigments have high UV shielding properties in addition to visible light shielding properties, which poses a challenge in terms of reduced UV curability when incorporated into photocurable chemicals.

Therefore, New black pigments with high UV transmittance, “NITRBLACK UB series”, have been developed. In this paper, we introduce the development process, characteristics, and evaluation examples of the pigments.

Antireflection coatings comprised of black layers, which show large and constant absorption throughout visible range, are promising for electronic displays to show beautiful black colors. However, well-known black materials cannot be applied into the black layers due to their large wavelength dependences of visible-light absorption and/or surface roughness; thus, this research group developed new black thin-film materials for the black layers. TiO_2－δ-NbO₂-based and TiO_xN_y-based thin films show excellent blackness because of contribution by both itinerant electrons and interband transition with a good balance. For the electrically insulative black layers which can be applied for touch-panel displays, Ag-Fe₂O₃-based thin film are promising. The antireflection coatings comprised of the developed black thin films have been successfully fabricated, and we are working to put them into products.

Novel black thermal barrier pigments have been synthesized. The pigments absorb visible light to give a black color, but highly reflect near-infrared rays, which cause temperature increase, and suppress solar radiation absorption. Two types of compounds were investigated: a black pigment based on a complex oxide of calcium and manganese, and that based on a composite oxide of cerium and vanadium. In the former, Ca₂MnO₄ was found to have high near-infrared reflectance, and a small amount of Zn and Ti were doped to improve the color tone and solar reflectance. In the latter case, the same improvement was achieved by doping a small amount of Gd into CeVO₄. As a result, both pigments were black and have high solar reflectance values of 65% or higher according to the JIS K 5602 standard.

The color of human hair is controlled by the amount and quality of melanin pigments in the hair fiber. The color impression of black hair can be, however, affected by the other factors also. When light scattering is observed at the internal structure of hair fiber, the hair color looks lighter and the impression of hair luster looks changed. The alignment of hair fibers also affects the impression of hair appearance. In this article, the factors and technologies to control the color impression of hair are briefly introduced.

As we approach the 60th anniversary of the introduction of electrostatic coating in Japan, we look back on the evolution of electrostatic coating apparatus in response to changes in the environment surrounding industrial coatings, with a focus on the automotive industry. This paper traces the evolution of bell-type electrostatic coating apparatus that has been developed in response to the needs that have arisen in each period, particularly the reduction of direct material costs, improvement of finish quality, reduction of energy consumption, and reduction of environmental load. Furthermore, this report describes the future direction for how to contribute to GX (Green Transformation), an international social initiative aimed at becoming “carbon neutral” and “carbon negative”.

Renewable energies are attracting attention from the global perspectives of carbon neutrality and energy security. In particular, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are expected to attract new entrants to commercialize the next-generation solar cells which are lightweight, flexible, and low-cost. PSC’s industries will also have a different supply chain from that of crystalline silicon solar cells. Furthermore, the importance of material development is recognized for the practical use of perovskite solar cells. For these reasons, this lecture briefly describes the structure, principles, manufacturing processes, technical issues, and global development status of perovskite solar cells for those who have no experience of the research and development in this field, such as material and equipment manufacturers.