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A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300). This special issue belongs to the section "Multidisciplinary Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2026) | Viewed by 15716

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Dr. Hui Xu

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Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China
Interests: high-entropy alloys; amorphous alloys; magnetic properties; mechanical properties; microstructure; heterostructured materials

Dr. Zhong Li

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Guest Editor

College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Interests: high-entropy alloys; magnetic properties; mechanical properties; electrocatalysis; hybrid nanostructures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys" aims to explore cutting-edge developments in the field of materials science, focusing on the unique properties and applications of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). These alloys, characterized by their equiatomic or near-equiatomic mixture of four or more elements, have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and other exceptional properties, which are not typically observed in conventional alloys.

This issue seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for researchers, engineers, and academics to share their latest findings, innovative theories, and experimental results related to HEAs. The scope of this issue encompasses the synthesis methods, microstructure characterization, magnetic, properties, mechanical properties, phase stability, and potential applications of high-entropy alloys in various industries, including aerospace, biomedical, and energy sectors.

We welcome submissions that delve into the fundamental understanding of HEAs, computational studies predicting new alloy systems, and experimental investigations of their properties. Additionally, we are interested in articles that discuss the role of high-entropy alloys in multidisciplinary research, such as their use in catalytic processes, sensors, and environmental protection technologies.

The Special Issue will follow a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality and significance of the published work. We encourage authors to submit their manuscripts that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in high-entropy alloys and their practical implementations, fostering innovation and technological breakthroughs in material science.

Dr. Hui Xu
Dr. Zhong Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

high-entropy alloys/materials
medium-entropy alloy/materials
alloy design
synthesis methods
magnetic properties
mechanical properties
electrocatalysis
irradiation
microstructure
modeling and simulation

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3586 KB

Open AccessArticle

Elevated-Temperature Tribo-Corrosion Response of Eutectic High-Entropy Alloy

by Jibril Shittu, Shristy Jha, Mayur Pole and Sundeep Mukherjee

Entropy 2026, 28(4), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/e28040391 - 1 Apr 2026

Viewed by 324

Abstract

The combination of elevated temperature and tribo-corrosion leads to the accelerated degradation of structural components used in many extreme environments. Recently developed high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with multiple principal elements have the potential for superior degradation resistance compared with presently used structural alloys. Here, we demonstrate the microstructural stability, pitting resistance, and superior tribo-corrosion degradation resistance of the AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 eutectic HEA in comparison with duplex stainless steel 2205 in deionized water (controlled low-ionic-strength electrolyte) at 25 °C, 50 °C and 100 °C. The AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 HEA showed excellent microstructural stability and tribo-corrosion resistance at all three temperatures, an order-of-magnitude lower wear rate, and a lower coefficient of friction compared with duplex 2205 steel. The lowest wear volume loss and wear rate for both AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 and duplex steel were recorded at 50 °C, which was attributed to temperature-assisted passivation and formation of a comparatively stable tribological surface condition. These results suggest superior performance of eutectic HEAs in tribo-corrosion applications compared with currently used dual-phase steels and motivate future evaluation in ion-containing industrial water chemistries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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15 pages, 4568 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influences of Annealing Treatment on Soft Magnetic Properties, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Fe_24.94Co_24.94Ni_24.94Al_24.94Si_0.24 High-Entropy Alloy

by Shiqi Zhang, Pin Jiang, Xuanbo Shi, Xiaohua Tan and Hui Xu

Entropy 2026, 28(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/e28010110 - 16 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 443

Abstract

In order to meet the ever-growing demand in modern power electronics, the advanced soft magnetic materials (SMMs) are required to exhibit both excellent soft magnetic performance and mechanical properties. In this work, the effects of an annealing treatment on the soft magnetic properties, mechanical properties and microstructure of the Fe_24.94Co_24.94Ni_24.94Al_24.94Si_0.24 high-entropy alloy (HEA) are investigated. The as-cast HEA consists of a body-centered cubic (BCC) matrix phase and spherical B2 nanoprecipitates with a diameter of approximately 5 nm, where a coherent relationship is established between the B2 phase and the BCC matrix. After annealing at 873 K, the alloy retains both the BCC and B2 phases, with their coherent relationship preserved; besides the spherical B2 nanoprecipitates, rod-shaped B2 nanoprecipitates are also observed. After the annealing treatment, the saturation magnetization (M_s) of the alloy varies slightly within the range of 103–113 Am²/kg, which may be induced by the precipitation of this rod-shaped nanoprecipitate phase in the alloy. The increase in the coercivity (H_c) of annealed HEA is due to the inhomogeneous grain distribution, increased lattice misfit and high dislocation density induced by the annealing. The nanoindentation result reveals that the hardness after annealing at 873 K exhibits a 25% improvement compared with the hardness of as-cast HEA, which is mainly due to dislocation strengthening and precipitation strengthening. This research finding can provide guidance for the development of novel ferromagnetic HEAs, so as to meet the demands for materials with excellent soft magnetic properties and superior mechanical properties in the field of sustainable electrical energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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16 pages, 6698 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable High Corrosion Resistance in High-Concentration NaCl Solutions for Refractory High-Entropy Alloys with High Strength and Good Plasticity

by Shunhua Chen, Xinxin Liu, Chong Li, Wuji Wang and Xiaokang Yue

Entropy 2026, 28(1), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/e28010105 - 15 Jan 2026

Viewed by 548

Abstract

Among corrosive environments, Cl⁻ is one of the most aggressive anions which can cause electrochemical corrosion and the resultant failures of alloys, and the increase in Cl⁻ concentration will further deteriorate the passive film in many conventional alloys. Here, we report single-phase Nb₂₅Mo₂₅Ta₂₅Ti₂₀W₅C_x (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.8 at.%) refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) with excellent corrosion resistance in high-concentration NaCl solutions. According to potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, corroded morphology and the current–time results, the RHEAs demonstrate even better corrosion resistance with the increase in NaCl concentration to 23.5 wt.%, significantly superior to 304 L stainless steel. Typically, the corrosion current density (i_corr) and over-passivation potential (E_t) reached the lowest and highest value, respectively, in the 23.5 wt.% NaCl solution, and the i_corr (2.36 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm²) of Nb₂₅Mo₂₅Ta₂₅Ti₂₀W₅C_0.1 alloy is nearly two orders lower than that of 304 L stainless steel (1.75 × 10⁻⁵ A/cm²). The excellent corrosion resistance results from the formation of passive films with fewer defects and more stable oxides. Moreover, with the addition of the appropriate C element, the RHEAs also demonstrated improved strength and plasticity simultaneously, for example, the Nb₂₅Mo₂₅Ta₂₅Ti₂₀W₅C_0.3 alloy exhibited an average yield strength of 1368 MPa and a plastic strain of 19.7%. The present findings provide useful guidance to address the conflict between the excellent corrosion resistance and high strength of advanced alloys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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10 pages, 2135 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

High Strength and Fracture Resistance of Reduced-Activity W-Ta-Ti-V-Zr High-Entropy Alloy for Fusion Energy Applications

by Siva Shankar Alla, Blake Kourosh Emad and Sundeep Mukherjee

Entropy 2025, 27(8), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/e27080777 - 23 Jul 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2167

Abstract

Refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising candidates for next-generation nuclear applications, particularly fusion reactors, due to their excellent high-temperature mechanical properties and irradiation resistance. Here, the microstructure and mechanical behavior were investigated for an equimolar WTaTiVZr HEA, designed from a palette of low-activation elements. The as-cast alloy exhibited a dendritic microstructure composed of W-Ta rich dendrites and Zr-Ti-V rich inter-dendritic regions, both possessing a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure. Room temperature bulk compression tests showed ultra-high strength of around 1.6 GPa and plastic strain ~6%, with fracture surfaces showing cleavage facets. The alloy also demonstrated excellent high-temperature strength of ~650 MPa at 500 °C. Scratch-based fracture toughness was ~38 MPa√m for the as-cast WTaTiVZr HEA compared to ~25 MPa√m for commercially used pure tungsten. This higher value of fracture toughness indicates superior damage tolerance relative to commercially used pure tungsten. These results highlight the alloy’s potential as a low-activation structural material for high-temperature plasma-facing components (PFCs) in fusion reactors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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13 pages, 5099 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Grain Size Distribution on Frictional Wear and Corrosion Properties of (FeCoNi)₈₆Al₇Ti₇ High-Entropy Alloys

by Qinhu Sun, Pan Ma, Hong Yang, Kaiqiang Xie, Shiguang Wan, Chunqi Sheng, Zhibo Chen, Hongji Yang, Yandong Jia and Konda Gokuldoss Prashanth

Entropy 2025, 27(7), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/e27070747 - 12 Jul 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1095

Abstract

Optimization of grain size distribution in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) is a promising design strategy to overcome wear and corrosion resistance. In this study, a (FeCoNi)₈₆Al₇Ti₇ high-entropy alloy with customized isometric and heterogeneous structure, as well as fine-crystal isometric design by SPS, is investigated for microstructure, surface morphology, hardness, frictional wear, and corrosion resistance. The effects of the SPS process on the microstructure and mechanical behavior are elucidated, and the frictional wear and corrosion resistance of the alloys are improved with heterogeneous structural fine-grain strengthening and uniform fine-grain strengthening. The wear mechanisms and corrosion behavior mechanisms of (FeCoNi)₈₆Al₇Ti₇ HEAs with different phase structure designs are elaborated. This work highlights the potential of using powder metallurgy to efficiently and precisely control and optimize the multi-scale microstructure of high-entropy alloys, thereby improving their frictional wear and corrosion properties in demanding applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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15 pages, 9877 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tuning Corrosion Resistance and AC Soft Magnetic Properties of Fe-Co-Ni-Al Medium-Entropy Alloy via Ni Content

by Wenfeng Peng, Yubing Xia, Hui Xu and Xiaohua Tan

Entropy 2024, 26(12), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26121038 - 30 Nov 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2687

Abstract

Corrosion of soft magnetic materials during service can significantly impact their performance and service life, therefore it is important to improve their corrosion resistance. In this paper, the corrosion resistance, alternating current soft magnetic properties (AC SMPs) and microstructure of FeCoNi_xAl (x = 1.0–2.0) medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) were studied. Corrosion resistance is greatly improved with an increase in Ni content. The x = 2.0 alloy has the lowest corrosion current density (I_corr = 2.67 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm²), which is reduced by 71% compared to the x = 1.0 alloy. Increasing the Ni content can improve the AC SMPs of the alloy. When x = 1.75, the total loss (P_s) is improved by 6% compared to the x = 1.0 alloy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the increase in Ni content is beneficial for promoting the formation of the face-centered-cubic (FCC) phase, and the body-centered-cubic (BCC) phase is gradually divided by the FCC phase. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) shows that, with the increase in Ni content, the number of grain boundaries in the alloy is greatly reduced and numerous phase boundaries appear in the alloys. The degree of strain concentration is significantly reduced with the increasing Ni content. The corrosion mechanism of alloys is also discussed in this paper. Our study provides a method to balance the soft magnetic properties and corrosion resistance, paving the way for potential applications of Fe-Co-Ni-Al MEAs in corrosive environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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21 pages, 42043 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Behavior of 900 °C-Annealed CoCrFeMnNiSix (X = 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9) High-Entropy Alloys

by Chunxia Jiang, Rongbin Li, Zaikang Zong, Wenge Li, Yong Zhang and Tongyao Li

Entropy 2024, 26(11), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26110897 - 23 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2333

Abstract

In this study, a series of CoCrFeMnNiSix (x = 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were prepared by suspension melting of cold crucible, annealed at 1000 °C, and then quenched at 900 °C. The changes in the microstructure of the HEAs after the addition of Si were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The hardness, room-temperature friction, and wear behavior, room-temperature compressive properties, and corrosion resistance of the annealed CoCrFeMnNiSix HEAs were also studied. The results show that when the Si content is 0 and 0.3, the annealed CoCrFeMnNiSix HEA exhibits a single face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. As the silicon content increases, a face-centered orthorhombic (FCO) phase appears. At a Si content of 0.9, a hexagonal close-packed (HCP) phase is observed. After heat treatment, the hardness of the CoCrFeMnNiSix HEAs increases continuously with the addition of Si. The HEA with a Si content of 0.9 achieves the highest hardness of 974.8 ± 30.2 HV. The HEA with a Si content of 0.6 reaches the highest compressive strength and yield strength, which are 1990.3 MPa and 1327.5 MPa. When the Si content is 0.9, the HEA shows the smoothest surface after wear, with the best wear resistance, achieving a value of 0.21 mm⁻¹. In the CoCrFeMnNiSix HEAs after 900 °C heat treatment, the HEA with a Si content of 0.6 exhibits the lowest self-corrosion current density of 0.23 µA/cm² and the highest pitting potential of 157.65 mV, indicating the best corrosion resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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15 pages, 8452 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cooling Rate and Compositional Effects on Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of (CoCrCuTi)_100−xFe_x High-Entropy Alloys

by Brittney Terry and Reza Abbaschian

Entropy 2024, 26(10), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26100826 - 29 Sep 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1893

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of cooling rate and alloy composition on phase formations and properties of (CoCrCuTi)_100−xFe_x (x = 0, 5, 10, 12.5, 15) high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Samples were synthesized using arc-melting and electromagnetic levitation, followed by quenching through the use of a Cu chill or V-shaped Cu mold. Cooling rates were evaluated by measuring dendrite arm spacings (DASs), employing the relation DAS = k ɛ⁻ⁿ, where constants k = 16 and n = ½. Without Fe addition, a microstructure consisting of BCC1 + BCC2 phases formed, along with an interdendritic (ID) FCC Cu-rich phase. However, with the addition of 5–10% Fe, a Cu-lean C14 Laves phase emerged, accompanied by a Cu-rich ID FCC phase. For cooling rates below 75 K/s, alloys containing 10% Fe exhibited liquid phase separation (LPS), characterized by globular Cu-rich structures within the Cu-lean liquid. In contrast, for the same composition, higher cooling rates of 400–700 K/s promoted a dendritic/interdendritic microstructure. Alloys with 12.5–15 at. % Fe displayed LPS irrespective of the cooling rate, although an increase in uniformity was noted at rates exceeding 700 K/s. Vickers hardness and fracture toughness generally increased with Fe content, with hardness ranging from 444 to 891 HV. The highest fracture toughness (5.5 ± 0.4 K_IC) and hardness (891 ± 66 HV) were achieved in samples containing 15 at. % Fe, cooled at rates of 25–75 K/s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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Review

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36 pages, 14298 KB

Open AccessReview

Constructing Hetero-Microstructures in Additively Manufactured High-Performance High-Entropy Alloys

by Yuanshu Zhao, Zhibin Wu, Yongkun Mu, Yuefei Jia, Yandong Jia and Gang Wang

Entropy 2025, 27(9), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/e27090917 - 29 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1746

Abstract

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have shown great promise for applications in extreme service environments due to their exceptional mechanical properties and thermal stability. However, traditional alloy design often struggles to balance multiple properties such as strength and ductility. Constructing heterogeneous microstructures has emerged as an effective strategy to overcome this challenge. With the rapid advancement of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, their unique ability to fabricate complex, spatially controlled, and non-equilibrium microstructures offers unprecedented opportunities for tailoring heterostructures in HEAs with high precision. This review highlights recent progress in utilizing AM to engineer heterogeneous microstructures in high-performance HEAs. It systematically examines the multiscale heterogeneities induced by the thermal cycling effects inherent to AM techniques such as selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM). The review further discusses the critical role of these heterostructures in enhancing the synergy between strength and ductility, as well as improving work-hardening behavior. AM enables the design-driven fabrication of tailored microstructures, signaling a shift from traditional “performance-driven” alloy design paradigms toward a new model centered on “microstructural control”. In summary, additive manufacturing provides an ideal platform for constructing heterogeneous HEAs and holds significant promise for advancing high-performance alloy systems. Its integration into alloy design represents both a valuable theoretical framework and a practical pathway for developing next-generation structural materials with multiple performance attributes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in High Entropy Alloys)

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