Nanostructured materials derived from high entropy alloys–State-of-the-art and leading technical applications

Abstract

Exceptional category of alloys comprising five or more alloying metals in structures are referred as high entropy alloys. Uniqueness of these alloys have been observed due to the combination of superior mechanical, thermal, conducting, anticorrosion, and other physical properties. Unlike traditional metallic alloys (two metals), the varying elemental compositions led to limitless potential possibilities. Recent research has unveiled an important opportunity for high entropy alloys based nanostructures like nanoparticles and nanocomposites. This state-of-the-art review is basically intended to highlight the design and essential structure, property, and applied aspects of essential high entropy alloy based nanostructures. Consequently, various notable nanoparticles and combinations of high entropy alloys with carbon nanoparticles (graphene, carbon nanotube) and inorganic nanoparticles have been surveyed. In this context, several nanocomposite designs have been reported using the efficient techniques like thermal shock, flame spray pyrolysis, plasma spark sintering, mechanical milling, alloying, electrochemical, and solution to name a few. The resulting high entropy alloy derived nanomaterials have been researched for microstructure, nanocrystalline structure, different mechanical features (microhardness, modulus, stress–strain, compression properties), wear, electrochemical, thermal, and range of other physical properties. Consequently, research on high entropy alloy nanostructures has pointed towards the applied fields of energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors), radiation shielding, corrosion/wear coatings, and biomedical uses.