Creating Goldene: A Breakthrough in Material Science
For the first time, scientists have managed to create sheets of gold only a single atom layer thick, a material they have termed goldene. According to researchers from Linköping University, Sweden, this breakthrough has unlocked new properties for gold that make it suitable for applications such as carbon dioxide conversion, hydrogen production, and the production of value-added chemicals.
Unlocking the Potential of Gold as a Semiconductor
Scientists had struggled for years to create single-atom-thick sheets of gold due to the metal’s tendency to clump together. However, researchers at Linköping University succeeded by utilizing a method employed by Japanese smiths for over a century. Shun Kashiwaya highlighted that when gold is extremely thin, it exhibits semiconductor properties instead of its typical metallic behavior.
The Serendipitous Discovery of Goldene
The creation of goldene was a significant challenge for the researchers. Initially working with an electrically conductive ceramic material, they inadvertently stumbled upon the formation of goldene. Lars Hultman mentioned that part of this breakthrough was due to serendipity, as their original goal was quite different from the creation of a new material like goldene.
Applications and Future Research
The unique properties of goldene, such as having two free bonds when two-dimensional, lay the foundation for diverse applications ranging from carbon dioxide conversion to water purification. This breakthrough also presents an opportunity to reduce the amount of gold used in current applications. The researchers at Linköping University are now exploring the feasibility of applying similar techniques to other noble metals and identifying additional future applications.
More information:
Synthesis of goldene comprising single-atom layer gold, Nature Synthesis (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44160-024-00518-4
