Embedding two-dimensional graphene array in ceramic matrix

Chuan Sun; Yujia Huang; Qiang Shen; Wei Wang; Wei Pan; Peng'an Zong; Li Yang; Yan Xing; Chunlei Wan

doi:10.1126/sciadv.abb1338

Embedding two-dimensional graphene array in ceramic matrix

Sci Adv. 2020 Sep 23;6(39):eabb1338. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abb1338. Print 2020 Sep.

Authors

Chuan Sun^{1

2}, Yujia Huang¹, Qiang Shen³, Wei Wang¹, Wei Pan⁴, Peng'an Zong¹, Li Yang³, Yan Xing¹, Chunlei Wan⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
² State Key Laboratory of Advanced Forming Technology and Equipment, China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology, Beijing 100083, P. R. China.
³ Key Laboratory of Key Film Materials & Application for Equipment (Hunan province), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan 411105, P. R. China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China. panw@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn wancl@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.

Abstract

Dispersing two-dimensional (2D) graphene sheets in 3D material matrix becomes a promising route to access the exceptional mechanical and electrical properties of individual graphene sheets in bulk quantities for macroscopic applications. However, this is highly restricted by the uncontrolled distribution and orientation of the graphene sheets in 3D structures as well as the weak graphene-matrix bonding and poor load transfer. Here, we propose a previously unreported avenue to embed ordered 2D graphene array into ceramics matrix, where the catastrophic fracture failure mode of brittle ceramics was transformed into stable crack propagation behavior with 250 to 500% improvement in the mechanical toughness. An unprecedentedly low dry sliding friction coefficient of 0.06 in bulk ceramics was obtained mainly due to the inhibition of the microcrack propagation by the ordered 2D graphene array. These unique and low-cost 2D graphene array/ceramic composites may find applications in severe environments with superior structural and functional properties.

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