Goldene
Single-layer allotrope of gold
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History
Goldene was synthesized as a free-standing material in 2024 by a team at Linköping University in Sweden. They made a disputed claim about the goldene work reported in 2022 by a team at New York University Abu Dhabi contained multiple layers but that was not true. [2]
Synthesis
The team used a material containing silicene between layers of titanium carbide. Gold layered on top of this combination diffused into the structure and replaced the silicon. Etching away the titanium carbide released free-standing goldene sheets that were up to 100 nanometres wide. The etching was performed using Murakami's reagent, in a 100-year-old technique used to decorate ironwork by Japanese blacksmiths. Surfactant molecules formed a barrier between goldene and the surrounding liquid — to stop the sheets from adhering.[2]
The team is exploring the potential for preparing goldene from other non-van der Waals Au-intercalated phases, including developing etching schemes.[1]
Graphene comparison
Forming 2D allotropes of metals such as gold has been difficult because metal atoms tend to cluster together and form nanoparticles instead of nanosheets.[2]
Properties
The material displayed Au 4f binding energy increase of 0.88 eV. The material is a semiconductor, with the valence band maximum 50 meV below the Fermi level.[1]
Applications
Potential applications includes sensing and catalysis.[citation needed]