Breakthrough in Material Science: Researchers Create “Goldene” – A Single-Atom Layer of Gold

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the world of materials science, creating a new ultra-thin version of gold known as “goldene”. This new material, which is just one atom layer thick, has the potential to revolutionize various industries and technologies.

Inspired by the success of graphene, a single layer of graphite atoms that has remarkable properties, scientists have now applied a similar concept to gold. By spreading out gold to an incredibly thin layer, researchers have unlocked a range of new properties that could lead to major advancements in fields such as carbon dioxide conversion, water purification, and communications technologies.

The creation of goldene was not without its challenges, as traditional methods of thinning metals often resulted in clumping. However, a century-old technique, inspired by Japanese craftsmanship, proved to be the key to success. By embedding gold between layers of titanium and carbon in a base material, researchers were able to achieve the desired single-atom thickness.

The process, known as intercalation, allowed for the creation of goldene, but extracting the gold itself proved to be a challenge. Drawing inspiration from Japanese smiths, researchers developed a modified version of Murakami’s reagent, a solution used to etch away carbon from materials. This method ultimately enabled the extraction of the gold from the base material.

The findings of this groundbreaking research have been published in a new article in Nature Synthesis, titled ‘Synthesis of goldene comprising single-atom layer gold’. The study opens up new possibilities for the use of thin gold and paves the way for further exploration into similar materials.

With the potential to revolutionize various industries and technologies, goldene represents a significant advancement in the field of materials science. Researchers are now exploring the possibility of applying the same principles to other metals, further expanding the potential applications of this innovative new material.