  We demonstrate a simple and easy method for producing low-reflectivity
surfaces that are ultra-high vacuum compatible, may be baked to high
temperatures, and are easily applied even on complex surface geometries. Black
cupric oxide (CuO) surfaces are chemically grown in minutes on any copper
surface, allowing for low-cost, rapid prototyping and production. The
reflective properties are measured to be comparable to commercially available
products for creating optically black surfaces. We describe a vacuum apparatus
which uses multiple blackened copper surfaces for sensitive, low-background
detection of molecules using laser-induced fluorescence.
