Abstract
The original concept of entropically stabilized solid solutions proposed in 2004 has evolved into the development of high-entropy materials (HEMs), which include high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and high-entropy ceramics (HECs). These are multicomponent systems that occupy the uncharted regions of phase diagrams; they have become exciting and vibrant fields of research since the concept was first proposed. The distinguishing features of these multicomponent systems offer great potential in various fields, including structural materials, magnetic materials, thermal barrier coatings, thermoelectrics, catalysts, batteries, and coatings against wear and oxidation/corrosion. This special topic collection on the “Design and development of high entropy materials” is motivated by the continuous evolution and expansion of the field. The articles included in this collection provide a comprehensive overview of the field’s current state, from the recent progress in the oxidation behavior of HEAs to the thermal and mechanical properties of entropy-stabilized materials and the potential of HEMs in Li-ion batteries and other applications.
The collection includes a wide range of topics, from the fundamentals of HEMs, such as defining what constitutes a “high entropy” material, to cutting-edge research on novel applications, such as the development of ferromagnetic HEMs and the use of machine learning for inverse design of single-phase alloys. Other articles delve into the properties of various HEMs, such as their ideal simple shear strengths, magnetocaloric effects, and the role of secondary phase formation in enhancing their functional properties. The collection also covers the synthesis and development of new HEMs, including bio-based alloys and high entropy borides synthesized via microwave-induced plasma.