Goldene

• Context (IE): For the first time, researchers have created a free-standing sheet of gold, making gold the first metal to be formulated into (freestanding) 2D sheets.
• Goldene is the first free-standing 2D metal and is only one atom thick.

How was it created?

Credits: Nature

• The technique used to create Goldene can also be used for other metallic objects, work on making 2D sheets of iridium and platinum is in process.

Applications

• It holds promise as a great catalyst because it is much more economically viable than thicker, three-dimensional gold.
• Future applications include carbon dioxide conversion, hydrogen-generating catalysis, selective production of value-added chemicals, hydrogen production, water purification, light sensing devices, etc.