World’s Thinnest Gold Leaf

Scientists have successfully created the world’s thinnest gold foil, just one atom thick, known as “goldene”, using a technique borrowed from Japanese ironsmiths. This breakthrough material has potential applications in carbon dioxide conversion and hydrogen production. The results of this research were published in the journal Nature Synthesis.

Researchers are interested in two-dimensional materials due to their unique properties in optics, electronics, and catalysis. The high surface area to volume ratio in these materials results in different behavior compared to bulk solids. While many examples of 2D materials exist, most are nonmetals or mixed compounds. Creating a pure metal sheet just one molecule thick is challenging.

The team led by Shun Kashiwaya at Linkinging University successfully separated a layer of gold atoms to create goldene. They achieved this by creating a multi-layer structure of titanium, silicon, and carbon, then coating it with gold. By carefully separating the surrounding solid material using a chemical etching agent, they were able to isolate the goldene layer intact. Adding the amino acid cysteine as a surfactant helped stabilize the layer and prevent clustering of gold atoms.

Goldene’s enhanced reactivity makes it valuable for converting carbon dioxide into fuels like ethanol and methane, as well as producing hydrogen from water. The research team continues to refine the synthesis method to optimize the properties of this groundbreaking material.