Temperature-dependent hardness of zinc-blende structured covalent materials

Understanding the temperature-dependent hardness of covalent materials is fundamental scientific interest and crucial technical importance. Here we propose a formula for zinc-blende structured based on dislocation theory. Our results indicate that at low temperatures, Vickers primarily modulated by Poisson’s ratio shear modulus, with latter playing dominant role. With an increase in temperature, governing mechanism plastic deformation switches from shuffle-set control to glide-set control, decreases precipitously elevated temperatures. Moreover, intrinsic parameter a3G revealed materials, which represents resistance material softening high This model agrees remarkably well experimental data materials. work not only sheds light physical origin hardness, but also provides practical guide design superhard