Data associated with "Sub-Nanometer Thick Gold Nanosheets as Highly-efficient Catalysts"

Two-dimensional metal nanomaterials offer exciting prospects in terms of their properties and functions. However, the ambient aqueous synthesis of atomically-thin, two-dimensional (2D) metallic nanomaterials represents a significant challenge. Herein, freestanding and atomically-thin gold nanosheets with a thickness of only 0.47 nm (two atomic layers thick) were synthesized via a one-step aqueous approach at 20°C, using Methyl Orange as a confining agent. Owing to the high surface-area-to-volume ratio, abundance of unsaturated atoms exposed on the surface and large interfacial areas arising from their ultrathin 2D nature, the as-prepared Au nanosheets demonstrate excellent catalysis performance in the model reaction of 4-nitrophenol reduction, and remarkable peroxidase-mimicking activity which enables a highly-sensitive colorimetric sensing of H2O2 with a detection limit of 0.11 µM. This work represents the first fabrication of freestanding 2D gold with a sub-nanometer thickness, opens up an innovative pathway towards atomically-thin metal nanomaterials that can serve as model systems for inspiring fundamental advances in materials science, and hold potential across a wide region of applications.