Single atom layer of gold produced for the first time
By 
Julia Robinson2024-04-19T08:30:00
Goldene synthesised via etching technique used in Japanese knife-making
A sheet of gold just a single atom layer thick has been created for the first time using a method employed in Japanese forging art.
The researchers, based at Linköping University in Sweden, hope that the properties of the material, which they have dubbed goldene, will open up new applications including carbon dioxide conversion and water purification.
Interest in two-dimensional materials was sparked by the discovery of graphene but there are significant challenges associated with synthesising 2D materials comprised solely of metals.