Nanotech coating for clothing from Clemson

Another Bayh-Dole innovation is a nanotech coating for clothing developing at Clemson University.

An AP release on November 26, 2004 describes the coating as a polymer mixed with silver nanoparticles which is infused into the fabric.

An interesting statement is imputed to Philip Brown of Clemson:

--> He [Brown] siad the film won't make clothing look glossy because the particles [of silver] are too tiny to be seen and, theoretically, have no color because they are smaller than the wavelength of light. <--

While particle size has an influence on the reflectivity of light (see Lord Rayleigh), absorption of light works well no matter what the particle size. Thus, (molecular) chlorine gas has a color as do many molecules dissolved in solvents.

Here, silver particles smaller than the wavelength of visible light are not transparent because they are smaller than the wavelength of visible light.