Comment on "Synthesis of ultra-incompressible superhard rhenium diboride at ambient pressure".
Chung et al. (Reports, 20 April 2007, p. 436) reported the synthesis of superhard rhenium diboride (ReB2) at ambient pressure. We show that ReB2, first synthesized at ambient pressure 45 years ago, is not a superhard material. Together with the high cost of Re, this makes the prospect for large-scale industrial applications of ReB2 doubtful.
Dubrovinskaia
Natalia
N
Mineralphysik und Strukturforschung, Mineralogisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. natalia.dubrovinskaia@min.uni-heidelberg.de
Dubrovinsky
Leonid
L
Solozhenko
Vladimir L
VL
D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D006244:Hardness; D011312:Pressure; D012211:Rhenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D001896:Boron Compounds; C519315:rhenium diboride; D012211:Rhenium