In this article, we present different innovatives use cases for gold as a precious metal

Gold for Medicine

Research have been made to test the power of gold nanoparticles for treating cancers and directly tumours. Gold based drugs are also used to treat some specific illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Gold nanoparticles are also mostly used for a millions of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Researchers at Imperial College London have experimented a medical diagnostic technique using gold nanoparticles to detect the presence of a molecule responsible of the HIV/AIDS.

Environment

Gold is used to improve the efficiency of solar panels.

Gold is also used to create materials for more effective fuel cells catalysts.

Gold is also used to decontaminate groundwater by breaking down contaminants into their components parts.

Engineering and Aerospace

Gold has been used in the construction of the NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. This telescope has 18 hexagonal mirrors covered with a microscopically-thin gold coating. Gold is used in this case as a reflector of infrared light.

Similarly, researched by engineers have been conducted to use gold plating in windows in order to reflect radiation and therefore keep building cool in summer and warm in winter. This reduces energy costs and carbon emission.

Nanotechnologies

It is believed that the nanotechnology industry will be a driver for demand of gold in the future. Different nanotechnologies are currently using gold, such as:

• Conductive nanoparticles ink for plastic electronic
• Visual display technologies (touch sensitive screens)
• Data storage technologies (e.g. advanced flash memory devices)

Gold nanoparticles (coupled with palladium) have always been used as an effective catalyst. Companies who have been using it include Dow Chemicals and BP, for the large scale production of vinyl acetate monomer, an important industrial chemical used as a feedstock for paints and adhesives.