New alloys mean all that glitters need not be gold for electronic applications

<!DOCTYPE html> <html data-environment="production"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/","20150703142056","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1435933256"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>New alloys mean all that glitters need not be gold for electronic applications </title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow"> <meta name="description" content="In some modern day alchemy, researchers have modeled and developed new classes of cheap alloy materials that boast the properties that makes gold so attractive for electronic applications."> <meta name="keywords" content="Gold, Electronic, University of Connecticut, Research"> <meta name="news_keywords" content="Gold, Electronic, University of Connecticut, Research"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@gizmag"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="New alloys mean all that glitters need not be gold for electronic applications "/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="In some modern day alchemy, researchers have modeled and developed new classes of cheap alloy materials that boast the properties that makes gold so attractive for electronic applications."/> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/goldlikealloys.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:domain" content="gizmag.com"/> <meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/goldlikealloys.jpg"/> <meta property="og:title" content="New alloys mean all that glitters need not be gold for electronic applications "/> <meta property="og:description" content="In some modern day alchemy, researchers have modeled and developed new classes of cheap alloy materials that boast the properties that makes gold so attractive for electronic applications."/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/"/> <link rel="canonical" content="http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/"> <link rel="image_src" content="http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/goldlikealloys.jpg"> <link rel="alternate" media="handheld" content=""> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://production-assetsbucket-wvksza8x3q2f.s3.amazonaws.com/ico/favicon.feae52afa635.ico"/> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056cs_/http://production-assetsbucket-wvksza8x3q2f.s3.amazonaws.com/COMPILED/public.731a7b908a80.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <script type="application/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056js_/http://production-assetsbucket-wvksza8x3q2f.s3.amazonaws.com/COMPILED/public.e59df7bcf015.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement("script"); gads.async = true; gads.type = "text/javascript"; var useSSL = "https:" == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? "https:" : "http:") + "//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"; var node = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { gpt_pushdown = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/pushdown', [[728,90], [970,90], [970,250]], 'pushdown') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_skyscraper = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/Science_Skyscraper_Right_160x600', [160,600], 'skyscraper_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_bottom_inc = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/bottom_include', [1,1], 'bottom_include') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_islandtr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/Science_IslandTop_Right_300x250', [[300,250], [336,280], [300,600], [300,1050]], 'island_top_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_islandbr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/Science_IslandBottom_Right_300x250', [[300,250], [336,280], [300,600]], 'island_bottom_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_hmpg_fllwr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/Article_300x600_Follower', [[300,250], [300,600]], 'article_follower') .addService(googletag.pubads()); stacksocial = googletag.defineSlot('/7346874/GZM-300x250', [300,250], 'stacksocial') .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('pt', 'a'); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.pubads().set('page_url','https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/'); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056js_/http://a.postrelease.com/serve/load.js?async=true"></script> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=10"/><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(e,n,t){function r(t){if(!n[t]){var o=n[t]={exports:{}};e[t][0].call(o.exports,function(n){var o=e[t][1][n];return r(o?o:n)},o,o.exports)}return n[t].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<t.length;o++)r(t[o]);return r}({QJf3ax:[function(e,n){function t(e){function n(n,t,a){e&&e(n,t,a),a||(a={});for(var u=c(n),f=u.length,s=i(a,o,r),p=0;f>p;p++)u[p].apply(s,t);return s}function a(e,n){f[e]=c(e).concat(n)}function c(e){return f[e]||[]}function u(){return t(n)}var f={};return{on:a,emit:n,create:u,listeners:c,_events:f}}function r(){return{}}var o="nr@context",i=e("gos");n.exports=t()},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],ee:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("QJf3ax")},{}],3:[function(e,n){function t(e){return function(){r(e,[(new Date).getTime()].concat(i(arguments)))}}var r=e("handle"),o=e(1),i=e(2);"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=window.NREUM);var a=["setPageViewName","addPageAction","setCustomAttribute","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","noticeError"];o(a,function(e,n){window.NREUM[n]=t("api-"+n)}),n.exports=window.NREUM},{1:12,2:13,handle:"D5DuLP"}],"7eSDFh":[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){if(r.call(e,n))return e[n];var o=t();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,n,{value:o,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),o}catch(i){}return e[n]=o,o}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],gos:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("7eSDFh")},{}],handle:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("D5DuLP")},{}],D5DuLP:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){return r.listeners(e).length?r.emit(e,n,t):(o[e]||(o[e]=[]),void o[e].push(n))}var r=e("ee").create(),o={};n.exports=t,t.ee=r,r.q=o},{ee:"QJf3ax"}],id:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("XL7HBI")},{}],XL7HBI:[function(e,n){function t(e){var n=typeof e;return!e||"object"!==n&&"function"!==n?-1:e===window?0:i(e,o,function(){return r++})}var r=1,o="nr@id",i=e("gos");n.exports=t},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],G9z0Bl:[function(e,n){function t(){var e=d.info=NREUM.info,n=f.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(e&&e.licenseKey&&e.applicationID&&n){c(p,function(n,t){n in e||(e[n]=t)});var t="https"===s.split(":")[0]||e.sslForHttp;d.proto=t?"https://":"http://",a("mark",["onload",i()]);var r=f.createElement("script");r.src=d.proto+e.agent,n.parentNode.insertBefore(r,n)}}function r(){"complete"===f.readyState&&o()}function o(){a("mark",["domContent",i()])}function i(){return(new Date).getTime()}var a=e("handle"),c=e(1),u=(e(2),window),f=u.document,s=(""+location).split("?")[0],p={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js"},d=n.exports={offset:i(),origin:s,features:{}};f.addEventListener?(f.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o,!1),u.addEventListener("load",t,!1)):(f.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",r),u.attachEvent("onload",t)),a("mark",["firstbyte",i()])},{1:12,2:3,handle:"D5DuLP"}],loader:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("G9z0Bl")},{}],12:[function(e,n){function t(e,n){var t=[],o="",i=0;for(o in e)r.call(e,o)&&(t[i]=n(o,e[o]),i+=1);return t}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],13:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){n||(n=0),"undefined"==typeof t&&(t=e?e.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=t-n||0,i=Array(0>o?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=e[n+r];return i}n.exports=t},{}]},{},["G9z0Bl"]);</script><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","queueTime":1,"licenseKey":"2798a8ea7c","agent":"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js","transactionName":"Y1BUNxcHV0IEUENYXVoacBYLBU1YCl0YXEdYQV8WFwoDXBBfQ1hEXVBB","applicationID":"12753935","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","applicationTime":42}</script> </head> <body>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2235360-4']); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 1, 'Section', 'Science', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 2, 'Writer', 'Darren Quick', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 3, 'View', 'Article', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 5, 'ArticleID', '16656', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageLoadTime']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://' : 'http://') + 'stats.g.doubleclick.net/dc.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(ga); })(); </script> <div id="fb-root"></div> <script> (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3&appId=38456013908"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); </script> <script>!function(d,s,id) { var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https'; if(!d.getElementById(id)) { js=d.createElement(s); js.id=id; js.async=true; js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs); } }(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script> <div class="ad ad-block"> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <div class="ad-inner" id="pushdown"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("pushdown"); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="ad-skin"> <div class="container header-container"> <a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/" class="logo"></a>  <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/search/" class="header-search"> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-1607124478120364:cf1bgg5f284"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11"/> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"/> <input type="text" name="q" class="input-inline header-search-input"/> <button name="sa">Search</button> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056js_/http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box-top&lang=en"></script> </div>  <div class="top-stories-container container"> <ul class="top-stories sprite"> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/pictorial-2015-goodwood-festival-of-speed-auction/38149/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/2015-goodwood-festival-of-speed-auction-preview.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/pictorial-2015-goodwood-festival-of-speed-auction/38149/">Pictorial: 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/apple-music-tips-2015/38280/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/apple-music-tips.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/apple-music-tips-2015/38280/">Tips and tricks to help you master Apple Music</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/horex-vr6-motorcycle-2015/38210/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/horex-vr6-motorcycle.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/horex-vr6-motorcycle-2015/38210/">Horex to bounce back to life with new VR6 motorcycle</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/solar-impulse-2-records-longest-solo-flight/38264/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/solar-impulse-2-records.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/solar-impulse-2-records-longest-solo-flight/38264/">Solar Impulse 2 breaks three records en route to Hawaii</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/olympus-air-a01-smartphone-mirrorless-camera/38254/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/olympus-air.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/olympus-air-a01-smartphone-mirrorless-camera/38254/">Olympus Air A01 turns your smartphone into a mirrorless camera</a> </div> </li> </ul> <a class="more-top-stories" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/top-stories/">more top stories »</a> </div> <div class="container"> <div id="content" class="narrow_content"> <div class="article-top" data-article="16656"> <a class="label" href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/science/"> — Science </a> <h1>New alloys mean all that glitters need not be gold for electronic applications </h1> <div class="clearfix"> <span class="pull-left"> By <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/author/darren-quick/" rel="author">Darren Quick</a> - October 14, 2010 </span> <a class="picture-count" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/pictures"> 1 Picture </a> </div> </div> <div class="inline-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/pictures"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/goldlikealloys.jpg" data-at2x="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/goldlikealloys@2x.jpg" alt="Gold-plated contacts in electronic devices could be about to lose their sheen thanks to the development of alloys with gold-like properties (Image: Windell Oskay) " class="hero-img"/> </a> <div class="caption caption--hero"> <p> Gold-plated contacts in electronic devices could be about to lose their sheen thanks to the development of alloys with gold-like properties (Image: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/" target="_blank">Windell Oskay</a>) </p> </div> </div> <div class="article-body"> <p>Gold has long been seen as a financial safe haven in times of economic uncertainty. This don’t look like changing any time soon with the price of gold reaching a record high of US$1377.60 an ounce this week on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. That might be good news for gold miners but not so good for the manufacturers of electronic devices that are reliant on not only gold, but also other precious metals. In some modern day alchemy, researchers have modeled and developed new classes of alloy materials that boast the properties that makes gold so attractive for electronic applications.</p> <p>The costly noble metals, including gold, platinum, rhodium, palladium and silver, are widely used in electronic applications due to their combination of excellent conductivity paired with resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Looking to find less costly but equally durable and effective alternatives, researchers at the University of Connecticut have developed new classes of materials that behave much like gold and its counterparts when exposed to the oxidizing environments that degrade traditional base metals.</p> <p>The research team investigated nickel, copper and iron – all inexpensive materials the team felt may offer promise. Using a combination of theoretical analysis to select the appropriate ingredients, and materials engineering at the atomic level, the team was able to create designer materials.</p> <p>Using inexpensive base metals, the researchers say they were able to synthesize various alloys and achieve higher conductivity native oxide scales through one of three processes: doping to enhance carrier concentration, inducing mixed oxidation states to give electron/polaron hopping, and/or phase separation for conducting pathways.</p> <p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.uconn.edu/" target="_blank">University of Connecticut</a> researchers claim their work has demonstrated an improvement in contact resistance of up to one-million-fold over that for pure base metals, so that base metal contacts can now be prepared with contact properties near those of pure gold.</p> <p>Their research appears online in the October 12th issue of the journal <em><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://apl.aip.org/" target="_blank">Applied Physics Letters</a></em>.</p> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <ul class="list-ui list-ui--horizontal share-bar"> <li> <div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/" data-send="false" data-layout="box_count" data-show-faces="false" data-share="true"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> _ga.trackFacebook(); </script> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/">Tweet</a> </li> <li> <div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/"></div> </li> <li> <iframe style="overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056if_/http://badge.stumbleupon.com/badge/embed/5/?url=http%3A//www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/" width="50" height="60" id="iframe-stmblpn-widget-1" name="iframe-stmblpn-widget-1"></iframe> </li> <li> <div class="pin-it-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/" data-image="http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/goldlikealloys.jpg" data-description="In some modern day alchemy, researchers have modeled and developed new classes of cheap alloy materials that boast the properties that makes gold so attractive for electronic applications."></div> </li> <li> <script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top"></script> </li> <li class="js-share-reddit"> <script type="text/javascript"> reddit_newwindow='1' </script> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ad "> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <script async src="//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <ins class="adsbygoogle ad-article-bottom" style="" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1607124478120364" data-ad-slot="6055296962"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="Gizmag"></div> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056js_/http://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js"></script> </div>  <div class="page-section media"> <p class="h2 title-standout">About the Author</p> <a class="media__right" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/author/darren-quick/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/CACHE/images/avatars/34.1790127a9e6a.jpg" alt="Darren Quick"/> </a> <p>Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (not still functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology continued through a number of university courses and crappy jobs until 2008, when his interests found a home at Gizmag.</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/author/darren-quick/"> All articles by Darren Quick </a> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <p class="h2 title-standout">Tags</span> <ul class="list-ui list-ui--horizontal article-tags"> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/gold/" rel="tag">Gold</a></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/electronic/" rel="tag">Electronic</a></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/university-of-connecticut/" rel="tag">University of Connecticut</a></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/research/" rel="tag">Research</a></li> </ul> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <p class="h2 title-standout">3 Comments</p> <ul class="list-ui list-ui--vertical word-wrap"> <li> <p>Isn\'t gold constantly reaching record highs? </p> <span class="strong">Carrie Montgomery</span> </li> <li> <p>yes gold is constantly reaching new highs because the federal reserve which is a multinational central bank that does not have anything to do with the federal government (is as federal as federal express) except illegally and unconstitutionally is in charge of printing of our money. So in reality gold is worth about as much as it ever has historically but our money is becoming worthless because they are constantly inflating our currency by printing more and more and more and calling it quantitative easing instead of counterfeiting. Since the federal reserve was was created in 1917 our currency has inflated by 95% and probably higher now that figure was as of a couple of years ago. </p> <span class="strong">yourmomthinksimcool</span> </li> <li> <p>I wonder is these new alloys are more or less susceptible to the \"whiskering\" effect seen since the removal of lead from solder alloys.</p> <span class="strong">bannor99</span> </li> </ul> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <a name="comment-form"></a> <p class="h2 title-standout">Post a Comment</p> <div data-article="16656"> <form class="login-form js-login-form" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/login/" method="post"> <p class="strong">Login with your Gizmag account:</p> <p class="js-login-error"></p> <input type="hidden" name="csrfmiddlewaretoken" value="oqk8QQhnMs5bYMrk5rHL50fg8Z1XN6BL"/> <input type="hidden" name="next" value="/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/"> <tr><th><label for="id_email">Email:</label></th><td><input id="id_email" maxlength="254" name="email" type="email"/></td></tr> <tr><th><label for="id_password">Password:</label></th><td><input id="id_password" name="password" type="password"/></td></tr> <button class="btn-lg btn-lg pull-right">Log In</button> <div class="pull-left"> <a class="small" href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/register/">Register here</a><br/> <a class="small" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/password-reset/recover/">Forgotten your password?</a> </div> </form> <p class="strong">Login with Facebook:</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/login/facebook?next=/alloys-with-gold-like-properties-developed/16656/" class="facebook-login-button" rel="nofollow"></a> </div> </div> <div class="page-section"> <p class="h2 title-standout">Related Articles</p> <ul class="list-ui list-ui--vertical related-articles"> <li class="media"> <a class="media__left" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/qr-codes-3d-images/34771/" title="QR codes could generate 3D images on phones – no internet required"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-related/qr-codes-3d-images.jpg" alt="QR codes could generate 3D images on phones – no internet required"/> </a> <a class="h3 title-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/qr-codes-3d-images/34771/"> QR codes could generate 3D images on phones – no internet required </a> <p class="related-article__date"> November 14, 2014 </p> </li> <li class="media"> <a class="media__left" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/explosives-detecting-nanofibrous-film/23576/" title="Nanofibrous film detects vapors from buried landmines and explosives"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-related/nanofiberous-film.jpg" alt="Nanofibrous film detects vapors from buried landmines and explosives"/> </a> <a class="h3 title-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/explosives-detecting-nanofibrous-film/23576/"> Nanofibrous film detects vapors from buried landmines and explosives </a> <p class="related-article__date"> August 3, 2012 </p> </li> <li class="media"> <a class="media__left" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/3d-augmented-reality-display/32294/" title="3D display could make Google Glass easier on the eyes"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-related/3d-augmented-reality-display.jpg" alt="3D display could make Google Glass easier on the eyes"/> </a> <a class="h3 title-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/3d-augmented-reality-display/32294/"> 3D display could make Google Glass easier on the eyes </a> <p class="related-article__date"> June 6, 2014 </p> </li> <li class="media"> <a class="media__left" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/quarkson-skyorbiter/33912/" title="SkyOrbiter UAVs will fly for years at a time and provide global internet access"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-related/quarkson-skyorbiter.jpg" alt="SkyOrbiter UAVs will fly for years at a time and provide global internet access"/> </a> <a class="h3 title-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/quarkson-skyorbiter/33912/"> SkyOrbiter UAVs will fly for years at a time and provide global internet access </a> <p class="related-article__date"> September 22, 2014 </p> </li> <li class="media"> <a class="media__left" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/mota-smart-ring-smartphone-alerts-finger/33629/" title="Mota Smart Ring delivers smartphone alerts to your finger"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-related/mota_smart_ring.png" alt="Mota Smart Ring delivers smartphone alerts to your finger"/> </a> <a class="h3 title-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/mota-smart-ring-smartphone-alerts-finger/33629/"> Mota Smart Ring delivers smartphone alerts to your finger </a> <p class="related-article__date"> September 2, 2014 </p> </li> <li class="media"> <a class="media__left" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/audi-4g-connectivity/28726/" title="Audi adds 4G connectivity to the A3"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-related/audilte4g.jpg" alt="Audi adds 4G connectivity to the A3"/> </a> <a class="h3 title-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/audi-4g-connectivity/28726/"> Audi adds 4G connectivity to the A3 </a> <p class="related-article__date"> August 21, 2013 </p> </li> </ul> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/search/" name="cse-search-box-bottom"> <p class="h2 title-standout">Looking for something? Search our articles</p> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-1607124478120364:bqw4wo-1udf"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11"/> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"/> <input type="text" name="q" size="10" class="content-search-input input-inline"/> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search"/> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056js_/http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box-bottom&lang=en"></script> </div> <div id="subscribe_modal_container" class="jqmWindow"> <div class="modal_close"> <a href="#" class="modal_close_button close_modal"> </a> </div> <div class="modal_inner"> <div id="modal_title"></div> <div class="modal_content"> <p class="title">Over 160,000 people receive our email newsletter</p> <p class="note_normal">See the stories that matter in your inbox every morning</p> <form id="subscribe_modal" name="subscribe_modal" action=""> <label>Your Email</label><br> <input name="email" type="text" id="modal_email" size="425"> <center id="modal_result"></center> <div class="modal_buttons"> <input class="big" type="submit" value="Subscribe"/> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="right_cols"> <div class="ad "> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <div class="ad-inner" id="island_top_right"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("island_top_right"); }); </script> </div> </div> <div id="right_col_a"> <div id="right_col_b"> <div class="ad "> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <div class="ad-inner" id="skyscraper_right"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("skyscraper_right"); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="ad"> <span class="title">Sections</span> <ul class="dots" id="sections_list"> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/features/" class="features_reviews_list">Features</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/reviews/" class="features_reviews_list">Reviews</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/aircraft/">Aircraft</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/architecture/">Architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/aroundthehome/">Around The Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/automotive/">Automotive</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/bicycles/">Bicycles</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/children/">Children</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/computers/">Computers</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/digital-cameras/">Digital Cameras</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/electronics/">Electronics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/environment/">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/games/">Games</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/goodthinking/">Good Thinking</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/health/">Health and Wellbeing</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/destinations/">Holiday Destinations</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/homeentertainment/">Home Entertainment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/remarkablepeople/">Inventors and Remarkable People</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/laptops/">Laptops</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/marine/">Marine</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/medical/">Medical</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/military/">Military</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/mobiletechnology/">Mobile Technology</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/motorcycles/">Motorcycles</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/music/">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/outdoors/">Outdoors</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/pets/">Pets</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/robotics/">Robotics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/science/">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/space/">Space</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/sports/">Sports</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/telecommunications/">Telecommunications</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/urbantransport/">Urban Transport</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/wearableelectronics/">Wearable Electronics</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <span class="h3">Recently popular articles in Science</span> <ul class="sprite vertical-sprite"> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/hydrogen-hematite-silicon-solar/38121/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/hematite-hydrogen.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/hydrogen-hematite-silicon-solar/38121/">Solar-powered hydrogen generation using two of the most abundant elements on Earth</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/3d-shapes-graphene-uiuc/38164/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/3d-graphene.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/3d-shapes-graphene-uiuc/38164/">Graphene takes on a new dimension</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-low-cost-nanocvd/38195/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/graphene-nanocvd.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-low-cost-nanocvd/38195/">New process could usher in "graphene-driven industrial revolution"</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/nanogenerator-energy-car-wheels/38224/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/nanogenerator-rolling-tires.JPG"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/nanogenerator-energy-car-wheels/38224/">New nanogenerator might set energy-generating car wheels in motion</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/crystalline-material-absorb-oxygen-denmark/34064/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/oxygenabsorber-2.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/crystalline-material-absorb-oxygen-denmark/34064/">Oxygen absorbing material may allow us to breathe underwater</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/owl-inspired-surface-reduce-wind-turbine-noise/38123/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/owl-wing-noise.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/owl-inspired-surface-reduce-wind-turbine-noise/38123/">Owl-inspired material to reduce wind turbine noise</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/additives-keep-lithium-ion-batteries-catching-fire/38081/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/lithium-additive.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/additives-keep-lithium-ion-batteries-catching-fire/38081/">Additives keep lithium-ion batteries from catching fire</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/niobium-phosphide-large-magnetoresistance-faster-electronics/38209/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/niobium-phosphide-large-magnetoresistance-electronics.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/niobium-phosphide-large-magnetoresistance-faster-electronics/38209/">Compound discovery sets stage for speedier electronic devices</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/micro-tentacles/38127/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/micro-tentacles.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/micro-tentacles/38127/">Pneumatic micro-tentacles can grab delicate objects as small as ants</a> </div> </li> <li> <a class="sprite__img" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/tiny-car-evaporating-water/38061/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero-popular/water-car-evaporation.jpg"> </a> <div class="sprite__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/tiny-car-evaporating-water/38061/">Miniature car runs only on the power of evaporating water</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> <div class="ad "> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <div class="ad-inner" id="island_bottom_right"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("island_bottom_right"); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="ad stacksocial"> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <div class="ad-inner" id="stacksocial"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("stacksocial"); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="ad js-ad-follower"> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <div class="ad-inner" id="article_follower"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("article_follower"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear_left"></div> </div> </div>  <div class="subscribe"> <div class="container"> <form class="js-subscribe-form"> <p class="h2">Subscribe to Gizmag's email newsletter</p> <input type="text" name="email" class="content-search-input input-inline" placeholder="Enter Your Email Address ..."/> <button>Subscribe</button> <p class="js-subscribe-error"></p> </form> </div> </div>  <div class="footer"> <div class="container"> <ul class="highlights highlights-horizontal"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/pictures-2015-paris-air-show/38085/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/2015-paris-air-show-pictures@2x.JPG"> </a> <div class="highlight__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/pictures-2015-paris-air-show/38085/">In pictures: Paris Air Show 2015</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/state-of-the-game-the-worlds-tallest-buildings/38145/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/worlds-tallest-buildings@2x.jpg"> </a> <div class="highlight__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/state-of-the-game-the-worlds-tallest-buildings/38145/">State of the Game: The world's tallest buildings, now and in 2020</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/photos-expo-2015-milan-guide/37796/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/expo2015@2x.jpg"> </a> <div class="highlight__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/photos-expo-2015-milan-guide/37796/">In Pictures: A walk through World Expo 2015</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/lexus-hoverboard/38176/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/lexus-hoverboard@2x.jpg"> </a> <div class="highlight__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/lexus-hoverboard/38176/">Lexus has developed a hoverboard ... seriously</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/galaxy-s6-active-review/38191/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/galaxy-s6-active-review@2x.jpg"> </a> <div class="highlight__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/galaxy-s6-active-review/38191/">Samsung Galaxy S6 Active review: The ideal complement to the GS6</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/camera-sensor-size-guide/26684/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/camera-sensor-size@2x.jpg"> </a> <div class="highlight__title"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/camera-sensor-size-guide/26684/">Camera sensor size: Why does it matter and exactly how big are they?</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="footer__copyright">All content copyright © Gizmag 2003 - 2015</div> </div> </div>  <div class="bottom-index"> <div class="container bottom-index__inner"> <ul> <li><a href="#top">Top</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/about/">About</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/privacy/">Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/termsofuse/">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://www.gizmag.com/advertise/" class="brighter">Advertise</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="ad hide ad-bottom-include"> <div class="ad-label">Advertisement</div> <div class="ad-inner" id="bottom_include"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("bottom_include"); }); </script> </div> </div>  <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056js_/http://static.getclicky.com/js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript">clicky.init(110681);</script> <noscript><p><img alt="Clicky" width="1" height="1" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056im_/http://in.getclicky.com/110681ns.gif"/></p></noscript>  <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var nstrack = document.createElement("script"), el_nstrack = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; nstrack.async = true; nstrack.src = "https://web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://track.netshelter.net/async/js/sites/gizmag.com-async.js"; el_nstrack.parentNode.insertBefore(nstrack, el_nstrack); })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={uid:4159,domain:"gizmag.com"}; _sf_async_config.authors = "Darren Quick"; _sf_async_config.sections = "Science"; (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', '//web.archive.org/web/20150703142056/http://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat_pub.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

New alloys mean all that glitters need not be gold for electronic applications