Goldene
07.05.2024
Goldene
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For Prelims: About Goldene, How is it created? Applications, Key facts about the Allotropes |
Why in the news?
For the first time, researchers have created a free-standing sheet of gold that is only one atom thick and named it as Goldene.
About Goldene:
- It is a special form of gold called a 2-dimensional allotrope.
- These sheets of goldene are roughly 100 nanometres thick (a nanometre is a billionth of a meter), approximately 400 times thinner than the thinnest commercially available gold leaf.
How is it created?
- Researchers first sandwiched an atomic monolayer of silicon between layers of titanium carbide.
- When they deposited gold on top of this sandwich structure, the gold atoms diffused into the material and replaced the silicon atoms, forming a trapped monolayer of gold atoms.
- Subsequently, scientists etched away the titanium carbide layers to create a free-standing, one atom thick layer of gold.
- This was done with the help of an age-old Japanese technique used to forge katanas and high-quality knives, using a chemical popularly known as Murakami’s reagent.
Applications:
○It can be used in the electronics industry.
○It could also be used in carbon dioxide conversion, hydrogen-generating catalysis, selective production of value-added chemicals, hydrogen production, water purification, etc.
Significance:
It holds promise as a great catalyst because it’s much more economically viable than thicker, three-dimensional gold.
Key facts about the Allotropes
- It refers to the ability of a chemical element to exist in varying forms with different arrangements.
- Each form shows different physical properties while keeping chemical properties the same.
- Examples: Elements that show allotropes are Carbon, Phosphorus, and Sulphur.
Source: Indian Express
Consider the following statements with reference to Goldene:
1. It is one atom thick first free-standing 3D metal.
2. It can be used in carbon dioxide conversion and hydrogen-generating catalysis.
3.It cannot be used in the electronics industry.
How many of the above statements are correct?
A.Only one
B.Only two
C.All three
D.None
Answer A