Free-standing two-dimensional Au films

Free-standing two-dimensional(FS-2D) materials of covalent or ionic bonds can be prepared through mechanical exfoliation by virtue of their intrinsic layered crystal structures.Here,following this strategy,it was reported the fabrication of large-area FS-2D Au films with controllable lattice orientations via an electrochemical hydrogen-detaching method.It was further characterized the catalytic properties of FS-2D Au.The(111)-oriented FS-2D Au with 20 nm in thickness shows a catalytic conversion up to 43.8% for the oxidation of cyclohexane as a model reaction system,a result of more than double of generally reported values.The exceptionally high catalytic activity could be attributed to the flexible structure of the FS-2D Au catalyst,which differs from the rigid structure of general catalysts.The results give useful implications for large-scale productions of a variety of FS-2D metals with controllable orientations,by which their applications may not be confined to catalysis chemistry.