Mechanical properties of atomically thin boron nitride and the role of interlayer interactions
- Journal:
- Nature Communications
- Published:
- DOI:
- 10.1038/ncomms15815
- Affiliations:
- 10
- Authors:
- 14
Research Highlight
Smart and strong
© Patrick Strattner/Getty
Two-dimensional boron nitride (BN) nanosheets are as strong as diamond, but are lighter, have greater flexibility, and could be used to create flexible and highly resistant smart technologies, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
Atomically thin layers of BN nanosheets have unique physical and electrical properties that could be used in a range of applications, such as nanoelectromechanical systems and sensing technologies. While scientists have a good grasp of the electrical properties of BN, a complete understanding of its mechanical properties is still lacking.
By examining the mechanical properties of single- and few-layer BN nanosheets, an international team of scientists, including researchers from Deakin University, have discovered that they are one of the strongest insulating materials available. Moreover, their strong interlayer interactions and thermal stability make them ideal for mechanical reinforcement applications.
These properties indicate BN nanosheets could be used to create almost unbreakable smart technologies.
References
- Nature Communications 8, 15815 (2017). doi: 10.1038/ncomms15815