Boron-induced transformation of ultrathin Au films into two-dimensional metallic nanostructures

The synthesis of large, freestanding, single-atom-thick two-dimensional (2D) metallic materials remains challenging due to the isotropic nature of metallic bonding. Here, we present a bottom-up approach for fabricating macroscopically large, nearly freestanding 2D gold (Au) monolayers, consisting of nanostructured patches. By forming Au monolayers on an Ir(111) substrate and embedding boron (B) atoms at the Au/Ir interface, we achieve suspended monoatomic Au sheets with hexagonal structures and triangular nanoscale patterns. Alternative patterns of periodic nanodots are observed in Au bilayers on the B/Ir(111) substrate. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray spectroscopies, and theoretical calculations, we reveal the role of buried B species in forming the nanostructured Au layers. Changes in the Au monolayer's band structure upon substrate decoupling indicate a transition from 3D to 2D metal bonding. The resulting Au films exhibit remarkable thermal stability, making them practical for studying the catalytic activity of 2D gold.