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Goldene
Context:
Researchers have achieved an unprecedented milestone by creating a free-standing sheet of gold just one atom thick.
More on News
- Gold is the first metal to be successfully crafted into a 2D material crafting an abundance of new opportunities for numerous companies.
- The sheets of gold are about 100 nanometers thick.
The researchers at Linköping University in Sweden developed goldene through a multi-step process:
- Atomic Monolayer Sandwich: They first sandwiched an atomic monolayer of silicon between layers of titanium carbide.
- Deposition of Gold: Gold atoms were deposited on top of this sandwich structure, diffusing into the material and replacing the silicon atoms.
- Etching Away Titanium Carbide: Scientists then etched away the titanium carbide layers, leaving behind a free-standing, one-atom-thick layer of gold.
Application
- Electronics Revolution: The creation could revolutionise the electronics industry by enabling more efficient and cost-effective devices through the use of smaller amounts of gold atoms as a catalyst.
- Sensing and catalysis: The ultra-thin, lightweight nature of gold makes it suitable for these applications. Its ability to capture light in unique ways could lead to innovative sensor designs and better catalytic reactions.
Gold (Au )
- It is a soft, and shiny metal.
- Atomic number: 79 The only naturally occurring isotope of gold is Au-197, though there are more than 50 artificially synthesised isotopes.
- It is found naturally in the Earth’s crust, often in veins, alluvial deposits, or combined with other metals like silver, lead, and copper.
- It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
- It is highly malleable, ductile, and resistant to corrosion and oxidation.
- It has been valued since ancient times and is commonly used in jewelry, currency, electronics, dentistry, and various other applications.