Silicon carbide is strong and heat-resistant but fails catastrophically due to low fracture toughness. By adding graphene, cracks are deflected and require more energy to propagate. This research has doubled fracture toughness, enabling potential use in nuclear reactors and other high-temperature structural applications.

Rising global electricity demand requires materials that conduct efficiently at extreme temperatures. This research develops scalable metal–ceramic composite conductors with tunable electrical properties by controlling particle interfaces and packing. These materials overcome limitations of metals and semiconductors, enabling efficient, affordable energy technologies for high-temperature industrial applications.