Beyond Dissection: How Transparent Wood is Revolutionizing Materials Science

A German botanist named Siegfried Fink had a simple wish to see the inner workings of woody plants without having to dissect them three decades ago. Fink managed to create transparent wood by bleaching the pigments of plant cells and published his technique in a specialized wood technology magazine in 1992. Over a decade later, a researcher named Lars Berglund stumbled upon Fink’s discovery and was inspired by it, not for botanical reasons, but because he wanted to create a more robust alternative to transparent plastic.

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Maryland were also exploring the potential of wood for nontraditional purposes. After years of experiments, the research of these groups is beginning to show promising results. Transparent wood could soon be used in various applications such as super-durable smartphone screens, soft-light lamps, and even structural elements like color-changing windows.

The process of creating transparent wood involves modifying or removing lignin, the glue that holds bundles of plant cells together and gives wood its earthy brown tones. By bleaching or removing the lignin and filling the air pockets with a substance like epoxy resin, scientists can make wood transparent. This material is not only thin but also incredibly strong, with tiny wood fibers that are stronger than even carbon fibers. In tests, transparent wood was found to be three times stronger than clear plastics like glass plexiglass and ten times stronger than glass.

Transparent wood has many potential applications beyond display screens and architectural elements like windows. It is a better insulator than glass, making it useful for controlling temperature in buildings. Researchers have also experimented with incorporating phase-change materials into transparent wood to enhance its ability to store and release heat efficiently. Additionally, new properties like the ability to switch from clear to tinted using electricity have been developed.

Efforts are underway to make the production of transparent wood more environmentally friendly by using bio-based polymers and eco-friendly bleaching methods. While glass may have a lower environmental impact at the end of its life, researchers are optimistic about the potential of transparent wood as a sustainable material