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1. Memristors Based on (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, W) High‐Entropy Oxides

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202001258  

   Ahn, Minhyung; Park, Yongmo; Lee, Seung Hwan; Chae, Sieun; Lee, Jihang; Heron, John T.; Kioupakis, Emmanouil; Lu, Wei D.; Phillips, Jamie D. (April 2021, Advanced Electronic Materials)

   Abstract Memristors have emerged as transformative devices to enable neuromorphic and in‐memory computing, where success requires the identification and development of materials that can overcome challenges in retention and device variability. Here, high‐entropy oxide composed of Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, and W oxides is first demonstrated as a switching material for valence change memory. This multielement oxide material provides uniform distribution and higher concentration of oxygen vacancies, limiting the stochastic behavior in resistive switching. (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, W) high‐entropy‐oxide‐based memristors manifest the “cocktail effect,” exhibiting comparable retention with HfO₂‐ or Ta₂O₅‐based memristors while also demonstrating the gradual conductance modulation observed in WO₃‐based memristors. The electrical characterization of these high‐entropy‐oxide‐based memristors demonstrates forming‐free operation, low device and cycle variability, gradual conductance modulation, 6‐bit operation, and long retention which are promising for neuromorphic applications. 

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2. Strength can be controlled by edge dislocations in refractory high-entropy alloys

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25807-w  

   Lee, Chanho; Maresca, Francesco; Feng, Rui; Chou, Yi; Ungar, T.; Widom, Michael; An, Ke; Poplawsky, Jonathan D.; Chou, Yi-Chia; Liaw, Peter K.; et al (December 2021, Nature Communications)

   Abstract Energy efficiency is motivating the search for new high-temperature (high-T) metals. Some new body-centered-cubic (BCC) random multicomponent “high-entropy alloys (HEAs)” based on refractory elements (Cr-Mo-Nb-Ta-V-W-Hf-Ti-Zr) possess exceptional strengths at high temperatures but the physical origins of this outstanding behavior are not known. Here we show, using integrated in-situ neutron-diffraction (ND), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and recent theory, that the high strength and strength retention of a NbTaTiV alloy and a high-strength/low-density CrMoNbV alloy are attributable to edge dislocations. This finding is surprising because plastic flows in BCC elemental metals and dilute alloys are generally controlled by screw dislocations. We use the insight and theory to perform a computationally-guided search over 10 7 BCC HEAs and identify over 10 6 possible ultra-strong high-T alloy compositions for future exploration. 

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3. Alloying effects on the transport properties of refractory high-entropy alloys

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2024.120032  

   Singh, Prashant; Acemi, Cafer; Kuchibhotla, Aditya; Vela, Brent; Sharma, Prince; Zhang, Weiwei; Mason, Paul; Balasubramanian, Ganesh; Karaman, Ibrahim; Arroyave, Raymundo; et al (September 2024, Acta Materialia)

   Additive Manufacturing (AM) has opened new frontiers for the design of refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) for high-temperature applications. The thermal conductivity of the AM feedstock is among the most important thermo-physical properties that control the melting and solidification process. Despite its significance, there remains a notable gap in both computational and experimental research concerning the thermal conductivity of HEAs. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) to systematically investigate the alloying effects on the transport properties of Ti-Cr-Mo-W-V-Nb-Ta RHEAs, including electrical and thermal conductivities and the Seebeck coefficient. The relaxation time of charge carriers is a key underlying parameter determining thermal conductivity that is exceedingly challenging to predict from first principles alone, and we thus follow the approach by Mukherjee, Satsangi, and Singh [Chem Mater 32, 6507 (2022)] to optimize the relaxation time for RHEAs. We validated thermal conductivity predictions on elemental solids, binary and ternary alloys, and RHEAs and compared them against thermodynamic (CALPHAD) predictions and our experiments with good correlations. To understand observed trends in thermal conductivity, we assessed the phase stability, electronic structure, phonon, and intrinsic- and tensile strength of down-selected RHEAs. Our electronic structure and phonon results connect well with the observed compositional trends for thermal transport in RHEAs. Our DFT assessment and CALPHAD predictions provide a unique design guide for RHEAs with tailored thermal conductivity, a critical consideration for AM and thermal-management applications. 

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4. Examination of the Oxidation and Metal–Oxide Layer Interface of a Cr–Nb–Ta–V–W High Entropy Alloy at Elevated Temperatures

   https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202100164  

   Romero, Rebecca; Makeswaran, Nanthakishore; Naraparaju, Ravisankar; Ramana, Chintalapalle V. (May 2021, Advanced Engineering Materials)

   The authors report on the evaluation of the oxide scale and the interface microstructure of a Cr–Nb–Ta–V–W refractory high entropy alloy (HEA) at elevated temperatures. The Cr–Nb–Ta–V–W HEA is oxidized at 700 and 800 °C in lab air and the substrate/oxide interface is investigated. Combined in situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with ex situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDS) analyses characterize the oxide scale and confirm the phases present in the substrate which have been previously identified in this alloy. The microstructure near the interface is studied for an indication of selective oxidation of this alloy. Cracking and porosity are found along the interface layer which grows directionally outward. Two main oxides are identified: a W‐based oxide with a needle‐like structure and a Cr oxide containing Ta that has a granular structure, primarily found in clusters. The oxide layers are porous, and no dense protective oxide is identified. It is found that when the temperature is increased to 800 °C, the oxide layer exhibits an increase in thickness. In situ XRD indicates that V is the first element to oxidize. 

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5. A Novel Low-Activation VCrFeTaxWx (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 1) High-Entropy Alloys with Excellent Heat-Softening Resistance

   https://doi.org/10.3390/e20120951  

   Zhang, Weiran; Liaw, Peter; Zhang, Yong (December 2018, Entropy)

   The microstructure, Vickers hardness, and compressive properties of novel low-activation VCrFeTaxWx (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 1) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were studied. The alloys were fabricated by vacuum-arc melting and the characteristics of these alloys were explored. The microstructures of all the alloys exhibited a typical morphology of dendritic and eutectic structures. The VCrFeTa0.1W0.1 and VCrFeTa0.2W0.2 alloys are essentially single phase, consisting of a disordered body-centered-cubic (BCC) phase, whereas the VCrFeTa0.2W0.2 alloy contains fine, nanoscale precipitates distributed in the BCC matrix. The lattice parameters and compositions of the identified phases were investigated. The alloys have Vickers hardness values ranging from 546 HV0.2 to 1135 HV0.2 with the x ranging from 0.1 to 1, respectively. The VCrFeTa0.1W0.1 and VCrFeTa0.2W0.2 alloys exhibit compressive yield strengths of 1341 MPa and 1742 MPa, with compressive plastic strains of 42.2% and 35.7%, respectively. VCrFeTa0.1W0.1 and VCrFeTa0.2W0.2 alloys have excellent hardness after annealing for 25 h at 600–1000 °C, and presented compressive yield strength exceeding 1000 MPa with excellent heat-softening resistance at 600–800 °C. By applying the HEA criteria, Ta and W additions into the VCrFeTaW are proposed as a family of candidate materials for fusion reactors and high-temperature structural applications. 

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