{
  "abstract": "Cubic silicon nitride (γ-Si3N4) is superhard and one of the hardest materials after diamond and cubic boron nitride (cBN), but has higher thermal stability in an oxidizing environment than diamond, making it a competitive candidate for technological applications in harsh conditions (e.g., drill head and abrasives). Here, we report the high-pressure synthesis and characterization of the structural and mechanical properties of a γ-Si3N4/Hf3N4 ceramic nanocomposite derived from single-phase amorphous Si-Hf-N precursor. The synthesis of the γ-Si3N4/Hf3N4 nanocomposite is performed at ~20 GPa and ca. 1500 °C in a large volume multi anvil press. The structural evolution of the amorphous precursor and its crystallization to γ-Si3N4/Hf3N4 nanocomposites under high pressure is assessed by in situ synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements at ~19.5 GPa in the temperature range from ca. 1000-1900 °C. The fracture toughness of the two-phase nanocomposite amounts ~6/6.9 MPa·m1/2 and is about 2 times that of single-phase γ-Si3N4, while its hardness of ca. 30 GPa remains high. This work provides a reliable and feasible route for the synthesis of advanced hard and tough γ-Si3N4-based nanocomposites with excellent thermal stabililty.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 18,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Wei Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhaoju Yu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Leonore Wiehl"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tianshu Jiang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ying Zhan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Emmanuel Ricohermoso"
    },
    {
      "name": "Martin Etter"
    },
    {
      "name": "Emanuel Ionescu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Qingbo Wen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Christian Lathe"
    },
    {
      "name": "Robert Farla"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dharma Teppala Teja"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sebastian Bruns"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marc Widenmeyer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anke Weidenkaff"
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopoldo Molina-Luna"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ralf Riedel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shrikant Bhat"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8msfjt8mgg6z3.bib",
  "cited_by": 15,
  "doi": "10.26599/jac.2023.9220764",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "8msfjt8mgg6z3",
  "issns": [
    "2226-4108",
    "2227-8508"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05789887v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.chim"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2503|Advanced ceramic materials synthesis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W4381948036",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.sciopen.com/article_pdf/1655397373588340738.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": "Tsinghua University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8msfjt8mgg6z3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:52Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05789887",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05789887v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2503|Advanced ceramic materials synthesis",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Hard and tough novel high-pressure γ-Si3N4/Hf3N4 ceramic nanocomposites",
  "title_text": "Hard and tough novel high-pressure γ-Si3N4/Hf3N4 ceramic nanocomposites",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:52Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8msfjt8mgg6z3",
  "venue": "Journal of Advanced Ceramics",
  "versions": []
}