Research progress on microstructure and properties of high entropy ceramic films and coatings
Yuming Wang, Baosen Mi, Jingjing Wang, Ping Liu, Xun Ma, Tianju Chen, Wei Li
Abstract
Characterized by their complex multicomponent systems, high-entropy ceramic thin films (HECs) have attracted much attention due to their unique properties, such as enhanced thermal stability, mechanical strength, and distinctive electronic characteristics. These materials, composed of at least four different cations or anions in a single phase and driven by high configurational entropy, can have potential applications in a wide range of fields such as protective coatings, diffusion barriers, and thermal barrier coatings. This review reviews the recent advances in the concept, classification, synthesis, and structure-functional exploration of HECs. This review also discusses the challenges associated with thermal stability, atomic distribution, and the effects of multi-element incorporation, emphasizing the need for advanced theoretical models and experimental strategies to further explore the potential of these innovative materials.