title: Superhard Monoborides: Hardness Enhancement through Alloying in W1- x Tax B.
abstract: In tungsten monoboride (WB), the boron atoms are linked in parallel serpentine arrays, with tungsten atoms in between. This lattice is metallic, unlike conventional covalent superhard materials such as diamond or cubic boron nitride. By selectively substituting tungsten atoms with tantalum, the Vickers hardness can be increased to 42.8 GPa, creating a new superhard metal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Jialin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.|Department of Materials Science and Engineering and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tolbert
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.|Department of Materials Science and Engineering and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kaner
keywords: borides; metals; superhard; ultraincompressible