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Network Covalent Solids

Network Covalent Solids

Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Fabrication of Gate-tunable Graphene Devices for Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies with Coulomb Impurities

Fabrication of Gate-tunable Graphene Devices for Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies with Coulomb Impurities

Published on: July 24, 2015

Nanoburl Graphites.

Kunpeng Lin¹, Hailiang Fang², Ang Gao^3,4

¹School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

|March 19, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel "nanoburl" strengthening mechanism for graphite, using nanodiamonds to create pseudo-Schottky junctions. This significantly enhances graphite strength, offering a promising approach for advanced material design.

Keywords:

graphite flakes graphite onions nanoburls pseudo-Schottky junctions

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Last Updated: Nov 12, 2025

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Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules

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Published on: April 28, 2014

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Solid State Physics

Background:

Graphite's low strength limits applications due to easy cleavage of its (0002) planes.
A burl strengthening mechanism in tree trunks inspired a new approach.

Purpose of the Study:

To enhance the mechanical strength of bulk graphite.
To prevent cleavage of graphite (0002) planes using a novel nanostructure.

Main Methods:

Nanodiamond particles were converted into graphite onions and embedded as
nanoburls
within graphite (0002) lattice planes.
Spark plasma sintering was used to prepare bulk graphites.
Covalent bonds formed via sp³ hybridization created pseudo-Schottky junctions.

Main Results:

The nanoburl mechanism effectively eliminated graphite (0002) plane cleavage.
Pseudo-Schottky junctions enhanced bonding between graphite onions and flakes.
Volume expansion from nanodiamond conversion consolidated graphite powder.
Nanoburl graphites exhibited five times the strength of conventional graphites.

Conclusions:

The nanoburl strengthening concept significantly improves graphite's mechanical properties.
This approach offers a new paradigm for microstructural design in layered materials.
The method shows potential for enhancing other layered materials.