Scientists Create The Largest Atomically Thin Gold Films
This breakthrough that can make electronics weightless and invisible was engineered by Dubai-based deep tech company XPANCEO in collaboration with Nobel laureate Professor Konstantin S. Novoselov.
XPANCEO, a Dubai-based deep tech company developing the next generation of computing through its first smart contact lenses, has, in collaboration with Nobel laureate Professor Konstantin S. Novoselov (University of Manchester, National University of Singapore), developed an innovative method for producing biocompatible, transparent, ultrathin gold films with no area restriction.
With superior electrical conductivity, these films have been declared to pave the way for next-generation versatile and transparent electrodes, with promising applications in flexible displays, electronic paper, extended reality devices, electronic tattoos, as well as implantable and wearable electronics.
A statement from XPANCEO noted that historically, producing transparent continuous and conductive gold films thinner than 10nm was considered impossible due to metal island formation during deposition. Traditional chemical synthesis methods, such as those behind goldene (the world’s thinnest gold leaf), also failed to produce large, continuous gold films, limiting their areas to 0.000001mm2.
In contrast, XPANCEO’s approach, inspired by graphene (a carbon allotrope that has applications in the energy, construction, health, and electronics sectors) and developed alongside Professor Novoselov (who had won the Nobel Prize in 2010 for his discovery of the unique properties of graphene), overcomes these challenges by enabling films as thin as 3.5nm using a high-vacuum deposition system — a standard resource in research laboratories.
Image courtesy XPANCEO.
“Two-dimensional materials are no longer confined to theoretical research, they are now becoming part of real-world technology,” said Professor Novoselov. “This method allows the scalable production of gold films exceeding 1m², leveraging roll-to-roll transfer techniques similar to those used in graphene manufacturing, which have been refined over the past 15 years. Compatible with current microelectronics processes, it allows for efficient, cost-effective production. Now, two-dimensional gold technology will be accessible in any research laboratory, unlocking new possibilities in electronics.”
Another advantage of this breakthrough is that the films can be transferred to virtually any substrate, from biological tissues to microchips. The transfer process, similar to applying a sticker, is efficient and adaptable, enabling placement on sensitive surfaces with high precision. Their atomic-scale thickness, biocompatibility and chemical stability surpass traditional transparent conductors like indium tin oxide, making them suitable for brain and heart implants, neural interfaces, and wearable medical sensors, significantly reducing the risks of scarring and adverse reactions. As a result, they are ideal for use in advanced medical technologies, including neural implants like the brain chips built by Neuralink, the neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk in 2016.
“This breakthrough has potential applications in flexible optoelectronics, including foldable displays, e-paper, and wearable tech, transforming consumer devices like smartphones, tablets, and TVs, while also paving the way for entirely new categories of technology, such as smart contact lenses,” noted Dr. Valentyn Volkov, co-founder and CTO of XPANCEO, who is an internationally renowned expert in the field of nanophotonics and advanced materials. “In our lab, we’re already working with transparent gold films just 0.5nm thick — equivalent to a few atomic layers — which holds promise for both cutting-edge technologies and fundamental physics research.”
The statement from XPANCEO also noted that the exceptional electrical conductivity and transparency of these films are key to advancing smart contact lens technology with extended reality (XR) vision, health monitoring and content-surfing features. The incorporation of these ultrathin films is essential, as they allow the necessary electronic components to be embedded seamlessly into the lens structure, maintaining the thinness of current medical lenses, while enhancing both functionality and comfort.
