Looks amazingly similar to a real nugget: 18-carat gold with latex as the base material.
ETH Zurich / Peter Rüegg
Five years ago researchers at the Swiss federal institute of technology (ETH Zurich) developed the lightest gold in the world, which could float on a cappuccino. But there wasn’t much they could do with it. Now they have created 18-carat light gold which can be used for watches, jewellery and electronics.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Русский
ru
Швейцарские ученые из Цюриха заново изобрели золото
It is based on a plastic matrix that replaces metallic alloying elements, as researchers led by Leonie van’t HagExternal link explained in the journal Advanced Functional MaterialsExternal link. Protein fibres and a latex polymer form the matrix, in which plate-like gold nanocrystals are embedded.
The material also contains tiny air inclusions that are not visible to the eye. The result is real gold which is five to ten times lighter than conventional gold – usable for example for watches that don’t weigh down the wrist or jewellery that doesn’t pull on the earlobe.
“This gold has the material properties of a plastic,” says Raffaele Mezzenga, professor of Food and Soft Materials, in whose laboratory the light gold was created. If a piece of it falls onto a hard surface, it sounds like plastic. But it glimmers like metallic gold and can be polished and worked into the desired form.
Gold nanoparticle
The researchers can even adjust the hardness of the material by changing the composition of the gold. They can also replace the latex in the matrix with other plastics, such as polypropylene.
Since polypropylene liquefies at some specific temperature, “plastic gold” made with it can mimic the gold melting process, yet at much lower temperatures. Furthermore, the shape of the gold nanoparticle can change the material’s colour: “nanoplatelets” produce gold’s typical shimmer, while spherical nanoparticles of gold lend the material a violet hue.
“As a general rule, our approach lets us create almost any kind of gold we choose, in line with the desired properties,” Mezzenga says.
Mezzenga points out that, while the plastic gold will be in particular demand in the manufacture of watches and jewellery, it is also suitable for chemical catalysis, electronics applications or radiation shielding.
The researchers have applied for patents for both the process and the material.
More
More
Gold nanoparticles improve effectiveness of medicines
This content was published on
Researchers at the University of Geneva have successfully highlighted the impact of gold nanoparticles on B lymphocytes.
Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?
Some regions of the world are on an upward trajectory with the promise of a steadily improving future. Where do you live? And in which direction is your region or continent developing?
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
US tariffs: Pharma firms not planning job cuts in Switzerland
This content was published on
The additional investments in the US will not lead to a reduction in jobs in Switzerland. This is according to pharmaceutical giant Roche, which expects the number of employees to remain stable in the current year. The position of Novartis is similar.
Switzerland is closely monitoring three livestock diseases
This content was published on
The spread of Lumpy skin disease, Bluetongue and African swine fever are keeping Swiss veterinary authorities on the alert.
Swiss writer wins European Prize for Political Culture
This content was published on
On Saturday, the Hans Ringier Foundation awarded the 91-year-old Zurich writer Adolf Muschg the European Prize for Political Culture.
Swiss government working with firms to overcome high US tariffs
This content was published on
The Swiss delegation that travelled to Washington has returned from talks on tariffs in the United States. The negotiations are now being conducted under the aegis of the government and the federal administration, according to Seco.
WTO improves its world trade forecast thanks to Trump’s tariffs
This content was published on
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) expects world trade to grow by 0.9% this year, better than expected in April. US imports surged in the first quarter as a result of Donald Trump's tariff announcements.
Swiss gold exports might not face US tariffs after all
This content was published on
Gold exports to the United States may not be taxed after all. The White House plans to "issue an executive order in the near future to clarify misinformation regarding the taxation of gold bullion," among other things.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.