Daijiworld Media Network - Leeds (SHP)

Leeds, Aug 7: Gold is used in different fields, engineering, aerospace, as well as in medicine. Scientists have now achieved an impressive feat where they have successfully created the world's thinnest gold, at just two atoms thick. The material is said to be one million times thinner than a human fingernail. Gold nanoparticles play a vital role in cancer treatment. The potential of the element will be realized much more in the 2D form.

The flakes are flexible, due to which they can be used in applications involving bendable screens, electronic inks and transparent conducting displays. Tests indicate that the material created is ten times more efficient as a catalytic substrate than the currently used gold nanoparticles. This would serve as an advantage, which means it could greatly increase the speed of medical diagnostic tests, as well as the efficiency of water purification systems.

This invention has been termed a ‘landmark achievement’. In the past graphene was also invented in a 2D format, but the material had faced a number of hurdles in large-scale use.

Professor Stephen Evens, who supervised the research, claimed the potential of 2D gold is much clearer. He said, "I think with 2D gold we have got some very definite ideas about where it could be used, particularly in catalytic reactions and enzymatic reactions. We know it will be more effective than existing technologies. We have something that we believe people will be interested in developing with us."