Partly because of the size of the atom, a charged form of gold called Au2+ is rarely found in nature. Scientists from Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and McGill University in Canada have managed to create and stabilize a rare ion that allows this fascinating elemental metal to be used in many new fields.

Gold atoms contain many protons in their nuclei, giving them a large positive charge that strongly attracts spinning electrons. These extremely strong forces make the effect of special relativity on acceleration much more significant, making some electron positions more likely than others.

This relativistic configuration not only gives gold its yellowish luster, but also makes the loss of one or three electrons more likely than the loss of two. Here, chemists trapped gold ions in a type of crystalline material called perovskite halide, which is used in everything from solar panels to electronic devices.

The special configuration of elements in the crystal stabilized any Au ion²⁺matrix, effectively preserving their unique status.

“Halide perovskites have really interesting properties for many everyday applications, so we wanted to expand on this family of materials,” says chemist Kurt Lindquist, formerly of Stanford University and now of Princeton University.

“Unprecedented perovskite Au²⁺ “It could open up some interesting new avenues.”

Discovered as part of a separate study into magnetic semiconductors and how they could improve electronic devices, the formula involves a mixture of cesium chloride salt, Au chloride.³⁺water, hydrochloric acid and “some vitamin C”.

“In the laboratory, we can produce this material from very simple materials in about five minutes at room temperature,” says Lindqvist. “We ended up with a powder that was very dark green, almost black, and surprisingly heavy because of the gold it contained.”

Vitamin C converts Au ion by donating one of its electrons³⁺ in Au²⁺. Numerous analyzes have confirmed that scientists have indeed created this rare form of gold in a stable form.

Gold is an attractive element for many reasons besides its highly attractive color: it is relatively easy to change its shape, but it does not react easily with other chemicals, meaning it will not tarnish or deteriorate over time.

Now that we have a new, stable form that we can use, the next steps will be to take a closer look at Au’s optical and electronic properties.²⁺Features that can later be modified and used in electronics and other industries.

“It was a real surprise that we were able to synthesize a stable material containing Au²⁺ “I didn’t even believe it at first,” says Hemamala Karunadasa, a chemist at Stanford University. “We’re excited to discover what au perovskite can do.”²⁺“. Source