In 2016, initial investigations were presented about this innovative idea, Transparent Wood, in which experiments were conducted with a component of plant cell walls, lignin, responsible for the rigidity of plant stems and tree bark. In these first approaches to the material’s transparency, this component was chemically removed, which turned the wood white, replacing lignin with a translucent polymer and thus enabling a level of transparency of 85%. 

The investigations into this idea — which could revolutionize the architecture industry — continued, and in 2021 they resulted in a simpler, more efficient process.

In this instance, scientists from the University of Maryland developed a method to modify the lignin instead of replacing it in order to turn the wood transparent. The method focuses on the “chemical brushing assisted by solar energy”, according to the website Madera 21, a process that consists of applying plain hydrogen peroxide and exposing it to ultraviolet light, which modifies the color of the wood, turning it white. An epoxy resin is then applied to reduce the light dispersion and make the wood optically transparent.

The benefits of the latter method over the former are that by preserving the modified lignin, the wood’s resistance is maintained, and that, on the other hand, it is possible to carry out the process by applying a brush to the wood, opening up a world of possibilities in design and decoration.

What is most remarkable about the results of transparent wood is that it can be used in sustainable constructions and improve the processes for energy-efficient architecture.