Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Liaoning used electrically-charged argon gas to produce a thin layer of gold-like sand on a piece of copper. However, the new material cannot pass as gold – for starters, the upgraded metal has the same density as ordinary copper.
Scientists won’t be able to mass produce fake gold coins, but they’ve already found a practical use for their new Frankenstein material. It was successfully used as a catalyst to turn coal into alcohol – a complex chemical process that is best facilitated by precious metals.
