News Brief
Indian Scientists Tap Teak Leaf Pigments To Develop Eco-Friendly Laser Shields
Representative Image (Pic via Wikipedia)
In a significant development blending traditional ecological knowledge with modern science, Indian researchers have found that the teak leaf—often treated as agricultural waste—can be transformed into a powerful, eco-friendly shield against harmful laser radiation.
This innovation holds promise for protecting human eyes and sensitive optical equipment in sectors ranging from healthcare and defence to precision manufacturing.
Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under the Centre's Department of Science and Technology (DST), have shown that extracts from teak leaves (Tectona grandis) contain natural pigments with extraordinary light-absorbing abilities—an essential trait for laser protection.
Why This Matters: Growing Laser Use, Growing Risk
With the rapid expansion of laser-based devices in India and globally—ranging from eye surgeries and industrial cutting tools to defence-grade laser weapons—there is growing concern about the potential damage they can cause.
Lasers, while precise, can harm human eyes and disrupt or permanently damage delicate optical sensors.
Until now, protection against such hazards has relied on synthetic materials like graphene and metal nanoparticles, which are expensive to produce and often environmentally harmful.
This new research offers a natural, cost-effective, and biodegradable alternative.
Turning Waste Into Protection
"Teak leaves are a rich source of natural pigments, such as anthocyanin, which imparts a characteristic reddish-brown color when extracted using suitable solvents. Recognizing this, we aimed to explore the potential of teak leaf extract as a non-toxic, biodegradable, eco-friendly and economically viable alternative to synthetic dyes in the field of nonlinear optics," said Beryl C, DST Women Scientist at the Light and Matter Physics theme at RRI.
"By utilizing this underexploited natural resource, we not only contributed to value-added waste utilization but also promoted the development of sustainable photonic materials with properties comparable to conventional synthetic counterparts," she added.
To test this, the researchers powdered dried teak leaves, extracted the pigment using solvents, and purified the extract through ultrasonication and centrifugation, and then exposed the dye to laser beams under lab conditions.
Two types of lasers were used—one continuous and one pulsed.
This behaviour is ideal for laser-limiting applications, where the goal is to allow normal light through but block dangerous spikes in laser intensity.
Real-World Applications: From Hospitals to the Battlefield
The implications are wide-ranging:
Medical Safety: Surgeons and technicians using high-intensity laser tools could benefit from eyewear and face shields treated with teak-based dye, protecting them during delicate procedures.
Defence and Aerospace: Optical sensors and visors in combat equipment or drones can be safeguarded from accidental or hostile laser exposures using natural dye coatings.
Industrial Use: Workers handling laser-based machinery could gain low-cost protective equipment without relying on synthetic materials that may degrade or pollute.
Consumer Electronics and Sensors: As India scales up its semiconductor and sensor production, natural, biodegradable optical materials could lower costs and environmental impact.
A Greener Future for Photonics
Unlike graphene and metal-based materials, which require complex synthesis and leave ecological footprints, teak leaves are renewable, biodegradable, and widely available in India.
This offers a rare confluence of low cost, local sourcing, waste utilization, and global relevance.
The team’s findings, published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, underscore the broader goal of building green photonic technologies.
Further research will focus on enhancing the stability of the dye and its integration into commercial photonic devices.
