Interlayer shear strength of single crystalline graphite

Abstract

Reported values (0.2 MPa-7.0 GPa) of the interlayer shear strength (ISS) of graphite are very dispersed. The main challenge to obtain a reliable value of the ISS using conventional measuring methods was the unavailability of sufficiently large single crystalline graphite. Here we present a novel experimental method to measure the ISS, and obtain the value as ~0.14 GPa. Our result can serve as an important basis for understanding mechanical behavior of graphite or graphene-based materials. © The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.