Golden opportunity

Gold is, of itself, one of the most valuable materials in existence, but it's of particular value to the electronics industry. Its stability and conductivity make it the metal of choice for connections in electronic devices, but its softness - and, of course, its cost - often lead to compromises.

Researchers from Newcastle University may have found a way to reduce the amount of gold needed for electronics by converting it into the tougher gold nitride.

Lidija Siller of the university's department of chemical engineering and advanced materials has devised a process where gold is placed under an ultra-high vacuum, cleaned with argon, heated, then irradiated with a spattering gun. X-ray crystallography confirms that gold nitride is formed under these conditions.

'I am starting to investigate [gold nitride]'s properties and to see how it performs in terms of conductivity and durability,' says Siller.

'Early indications suggest that it will certainly be cheaper to manufacture, as nitrogen makes up 80 per cent of the atmosphere around us.' Moreover, it could reduce pollution, she says: currently, gold is alloyed with toxic materials such as cobalt, arsenic or lead to improve its durability.