Researchers from Sweden's Linköping University have produced ultra-thin sheet of gold which is merely one-atom thick. They have named it Goldene. The breakthrough marks the first time when a metal has been formulated into a 2-D sheet.
Gold, due to its unique combination of qualities such as high thermal and electric conductivity, light weight, malleability, biodegradable nature, and corrosion-resistance is multi use metal in various industries, most importantly Electronics.
In Electronics industry, gold is used in manufacture of connectors, switch and relay contacts, joints, connecting wires and connection strips. According to data from various sources, including the World Gold Council and industry reports, estimates suggest that around 10% of the world's annual gold supply is used in electronics and electrical applications. As per the estimates of 2007, almost 300 tonnes of Gold was used in making electronics and electrical components.
The sheet of Goldene is only around 100 nanometres thick which is 400 times thinner than the commercially available gold leaf. Each gold atom has only six neighbouring atoms, compared to 12 in a three-dimensional crystal resulting in reduced weight of Gold, and hence the cost in commercial applications. Now, with the minimalised thickness, Goldene can offer significant economic viability in comparison to the traditional three-dimensional gold in Electronics as well as aerospace, chemical, medicinal, telecom and electrical applications.
In the aerospace sector, Gold plating is one of the most common uses in the aircraft industry. The amount of Gold used in satellites and aircrafts can vary from 1 g to 5 Kg depending upon the type of satellite and the purpose. By reducing the thickness of Gold, cost can be reduced where a thin layer is sufficient to provide required level of protection.
For example, five troy ounces of gold is currently used in 200 computers which is worth USD 9,000 as per US rates. But using the thin layers of Goldene at few points in the PCBs or circuitry connections of smart computers can reduce the gold usage from five to two troy, hence bringing the cost down to USD 3600 for 10,000 computers which is a significant difference.
Similarly, if 1Kg of gold is currently used in a space satellite costing approximately USD 58000, electroplating with Goldene instead would reduce the amount of gold by 40 per cent.
Potential applications where Goldene can offer significant cost reduction in Chemical industry includes energy-efficient catalysis for water purification, hydrogen production, carbon dioxide conversion, etc
In telecom industry, Goldene can replace traditional Gold in manufacture of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), Optical Fiber Connectors, RF Connectors and Antennas, Satellite Components such as connectors, circuitry, and thermal control systems.
With the new innovation combined with the recycling of waste products, it is expected that these industries may create gold-based products at more economical prices which will create massive boom in the sales over the upcoming years.
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