Interlayer shear strength of single crystalline graphite

Reported values (0.2 MPa-7.0 GPa) of the interlayer shear strength (ISS) of graphite are very dispersed. The main challenge to obtain a reliable value of the ISS using conventional measuring methods was the unavailability of sufficiently large single crystalline graphite. Here we present a novel experimental method to measure the ISS, and obtain the value as similar to 0.14 GPa. Our result can serve as an important basis for understanding mechanical behavior of graphite or graphene-based materials.