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Synthesis of high-entropy materials

Nature Synthesis volume 3, pages 1457–1470 (2024)Cite this article

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 24 December 2024

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Abstract

High-entropy materials (HEMs) exhibit compelling behaviours that are distinct from those in conventional solid solutions. Such disordered multicomponent systems bring unprecedented compositional and structural complexities that hinder a thorough understanding of entropy stabilization and its impact on phase selection and property optimization. The controlled fabrication of HEMs, ideally reaching the same level of detail as traditional alloy design, is desirable. The past decade has witnessed the development of advanced synthesis methodologies and techniques to introduce various degrees of control to this class of inherently disordered materials. Here we discuss the emerging rationales for synthesizing bulk and nanostructured HEMs with tunable microstructures, extended compositions and tailored atomic configurations. Case studies of formation pathways and stabilization mechanisms of different types of HEM reveal insightful synthesis guidelines. This progress enables predictable and rational manipulation of atomic order in the chemically disordered lattice, laying the foundations for exceptional functionalities.

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Fig. 1: Schematic showing the evolution of randomness (entropy, S) in structures containing five principal elements.
Fig. 2: Shock-derived nonequilibrium synthesis of nanoscale HEMs.
Fig. 3: Low-temperature solution synthesis of nanoscale HEMs.
Fig. 4: Data-guided high-throughput discovery, screening and optimization of HEMs with interesting properties.
Fig. 5: Examples and illustrative diagrams of various types of structural heterogeneity in HEMs.

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Acknowledgements

Y.S. acknowledges support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22205135), Shanghai Sailing Program under grant no. 22YF1419600, Shanghai Pilot Program for Basic Research—Shanghai Jiao Tong University (21TQ1400219), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (23X010301599) and start-up funds from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. S.D. acknowledges support from the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division, Catalysis Science Program.

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  1. Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, and Key Laboratory of Green and High-End Utilization of Salt Lake Resources (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

    Yifan Sun

  2. Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Sheng Dai

  3. Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

    Sheng Dai

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  1. Yifan Sun
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Sun, Y., Dai, S. Synthesis of high-entropy materials. Nat. Synth 3, 1457–1470 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-024-00690-7

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