Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have achieved a groundbreaking scientific breakthrough by creating “goldene,” a monolayer of gold just one atom thick. This innovation, detailed in a recent publication in Nature Synthesis, represents a significant advancement in the field of nanomaterials.
The team employed a novel approach involving two-dimensional titanium carbide and gold, which were meticulously etched using a special reagent known as Murakami. This process yielded free-standing gold monolayers, which were then meticulously examined using electron microscopy. Until now, the production of gold monolayers was limited to layers confined on templates or a few atoms thick. However, this new technique enables the exfoliation of gold to an unprecedented single-atom thickness.
The newly synthesized “goldene” exhibits unique properties, such as a 9% compression in its lattice structure compared to bulk gold, a phenomenon verified through electron microscopy. While theoretical models predict inherent stability in goldene, practical experiments have observed some torsion and agglomeration issues, which researchers have managed to control using surfactants.
Further characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed an increase in binding energy by 0.88 eV, marking a notable shift in chemical properties due to the reduction in dimensionality.
Looking ahead, the research team is exploring the potential to derive goldene from other non-van der Waals phases containing gold, opening up exciting new possibilities for future synthesis methods in nanotechnology. 
