Recently, Linköping University in Sweden announced a surprising discovery: goldene, a material composed of sheets of gold just one atom thick. This result was published in the prestigious journal Nature Synthesis and opens the way to incredible new applications for gold, transforming it from a simple metal to a potential catalyst for crucial chemical processes such as the conversion of carbon dioxide and the production of hydrogen.
Ancient technique for a modern discovery
Making the goldene wasn’t easy. The researchers faced the challenge of avoiding the natural agglomeration of gold atoms, overcome thanks to the adoption of a manufacturing technique inspired by ancient Japanese blacksmiths. The process included the use of silicon between layers of titanium and carbide, later replaced by gold under high temperatures. The critical step required the use of Murakami’s reagent to eliminate the silicon and release the gold, a technique that allowed the isolation of monatomic gold sheets.
The two-dimensional structure of goldene gives gold novel properties, such as the ability to act as a semiconductor thanks to its two free bonds. These characteristics make it an ideal candidate for catalyzing the conversion of harmful substances and the production of useful chemicals, as well as potential uses in areas such as water purification and communications technology. These applications could revolutionize several industrial and environmental sectors, highlighting the transformative potential of goldene.
