---
title: "Researchers Create First-Ever “2D Gold,” Just Two Atoms Thick"
description: "Scientists from the University of Leeds have created 2D gold — and they think it could improve everything from electronics to water purification systems."
date: "2019-08-06"
modified: "2019-08-06"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/researchers-create-2d-gold"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "gold"
  - "nanomaterials"
  - "the digest"
---

# Researchers Create First-Ever “2D Gold,” Just Two Atoms Thick

![Scientists from the University of Leeds have created 2D gold — and they think it could improve everything from electronics to water purification systems.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/researchers-create-2d-gold.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Gold Standard

A team of scientists at the University of Leeds has created a new form of gold that's just two atoms thick — and they say it could improve everything from electronics to water purification systems.

"This work amounts to a landmark achievement," researcher Sunjie Ye said in a [press release](<http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4456/scientists_create_the_worlds_thinnest_gold>). "Not only does it open up the possibility that gold can be used more efficiently in existing technologies, it is providing a route which would allow material scientists to develop other 2D metals."

## 2D or Not 2D

In a [paper](<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.201900911>) published in the journal *Advanced Science* on Tuesday, the Leeds team explains how it created this 2D gold by first placing the gold-containing substance chloroauric acid in an aqueous solution.

By introducing certain chemicals to the solution, they were able to reduce the chloroauric acid to an ultra-thin sheet of gold, which appeared green in the water, prompting the researchers to nickname it "gold nanoseaweed."

## Thinner

In their lab tests, the Leed's team found that its 2D gold was 10 times more efficient than the industry-standard [gold nanoparticles](<https://futurism.com/electric-charged-nanoparticles-can-turn-a-clear-window-into-a-mirror>) at accelerating chemical reactions, which could translate to big savings for companies.

"Our data suggests that industry could get the same effect from using a smaller amount of gold," researcher Stephen Evans said in the press release, "and this has economic advantages when you are talking about a precious metal."

**READ MORE:** [Scientists create the world's thinnest gold](<http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4456/scientists_create_the_worlds_thinnest_gold>) \[University of Leeds\]

**More on gold nanoparticles:** *[Electric-Charged Nanoparticles Can Turn a Clear Window Into a Mirror](<https://futurism.com/electric-charged-nanoparticles-can-turn-a-clear-window-into-a-mirror>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)