Licensable Technologies : Materials : Manufacturing & Fabrication

UV Absorbent Nanomaterials

Abstract

The American Academy of Dermatologists estimates that more than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. The primary cause of skin cancer is overexposure to the dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight. Existing organic sunscreen agents readily photo-degrade and are not broadband absorbers (unless used as mixtures). Further, existing inorganic sunscreens, based on wide-gap semiconductors, do not protect against the entire UV spectrum. Thus, there remain significant unmet needs for safe, long-lasting sun protection across the entire spectrum of dangerous UV light.LANL scientists have invented a new class of sun protective materials. These new sunscreen materials blend semiconductor or metal nanocrystals into a suitable carrier matrix. Nanocrystals provide substantial broadband absorption of ultraviolet light at wavelengths across the range of both UV-A (320-400 nm) and UV-B (280-320 nm).Related Links:
http://www.aad.org/
http://www.skincancer.org/melanoma/sunscreens.php
http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/6_6_98/bob2.htm