Work

High-entropy ceramics: A review of design, fabrication, and properties

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: High-entropy ceramics (HECs) are advanced solid solutions stabilized by high configurational entropy, typically incorporating five or more principal elements within a specific cationic or anionic sublattice. By exploiting multi-element disorder, HECs transcend the crystalline and compositional limitations of conventional ceramics. Their exceptional property profile—including extreme hardness, robust corrosion resistance, and superionic conductivity—makes them highly promising for aerospace components, ultra-high-temperature thermal protection systems (TPS), and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Despite this potential, HEC research remains in a nascent stage. Unlocking their full capabilities requires establishing robust theoretical frameworks for composition design, optimizing scalable synthesis protocols, and systematically navigating the expansive multi-principal-element phase space. To address these gaps, this review critically examines the fundamental core effects governing HEC behavior. We evaluate current synthesis methodologies, elucidate the underlying physical mechanisms dictating material performance, and review recent progress in machine-learning-accelerated property prediction. Ultimately, we outline the primary challenges and future prospects for discovering next-generation HEC systems.

Source: Journal of Materials Research and Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2026.08.066