In a remarkable breakthrough, researchers from Linköping University, Sweden, have created sheets of gold only a single atom layer thick, a material they have termed goldene. This groundbreaking discovery has given gold new properties that could make it a game-changer in various applications, such as carbon dioxide conversion, hydrogen production, and the generation of value-added chemicals.
The Quest and the Breakthrough
The quest to create single-atom-thick gold sheets has long puzzled scientists due to the metal’s inherent tendency to clump together. However, the team from Linköping University has finally succeeded, employing a century-old method used by Japanese smiths.
The Unique Properties of Single-Atom-Thick Gold
Gold, when in its three-dimensional form, is typically a metal. However, when it’s a single-atom-layer thick, it can behave as a semiconductor instead, opening up potential applications in carbon dioxide conversion, hydrogen-generating catalysis, selective production of value-added chemicals, hydrogen production, water purification, communication, and more.