Year: 2000
Type: article
Abstract: The theoretical strength of diamond has been calculated for the <100>, <110>, and <111> directions using a first principles approach and is found to be strongly dependent on crystallographic direction. This elastic anisotropy, found at large strains, and particularly the pronounced minimum in cohesion in the <111> direction, is believed to be the reason for the remarkable dominance of the 111 cleavage plane when diamond is fractured. The extra energy required to cleave a crystal on planes other than 111 is discussed with reference to simple surface energy calculations and also the introduction of bond-bending terms.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Institution: University of Cambridge
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2056090730