Journal of the Chinese Ceramic Society, Volume. 52, Issue 3, 945(2024)
Research Progress on High-Entropy Transparent Ceramics
High-entropy transparent ceramics (HETCs) are a type of ceramic material that is transparent and has high mechanical strength and thermal stability, which have attracted recent attention. The fabrication of HETCs involves the use of multiple elements in equal atomic proportions, leading to their unique properties. This review discussed the significance, progress, conclusion, and prospects of HETCs.HETCs have a potential to revolutionize several industries like aerospace, defense, and optoelectronics. HETCs can be used as a transparent armor in military vehicles, and transparent windows in aerospace vehicles, and as protective covers for electronic devices. The unique properties of HETCs (i.e., high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and transparency) make them ideal for these applications. Furthermore, HETCs can be used as a substrate for thin-film solar cells with the better light transmission, compared to glass substrates.The development of HETCs that are transparent in the visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is a significant achievement, as it allows for their use in optoelectronic applications. The high thermal stability of HETCs makes them suitable for high-temperature applications, which is essential in several industries.The high-entropy concept in these ceramics refers to the deliberate mixing of multiple elements in equal or nearly equal proportions. This random arrangement of elements results in a high degree of disorder, or entropy, within the crystal structure of the material. HETCs can achieve a unique combination of properties that surpass those of conventional ceramics via incorporating different elements.One of the key characteristics of HETCs is their ability to maintain transparency even under extreme conditions. Unlike conventional ceramics, which are typically opaque, HETCs exhibit a high degree of optical transparency, allowing a light to pass through them with minimal distortion. This property is particularly advantageous in applications on optical devices, windows, and lenses.Besides, one of the most significant advantages of HETCs is their exceptional mechanical strength. These ceramics exhibit great hardness, toughness, and resistance to fracture, making them suitable for high-stress environments. This property has some possibilities for their use in structural applications, such as protective coatings and armor.Another remarkable characteristic of HETCs is the superior thermal stability. These ceramics can withstand at high temperatures without undergoing significant structural or optical degradation. This thermal resilience makes them ideal for applications that require exposure to extreme heat, such as in aerospace and power generation systems.Furthermore, HETCs have a great potential in the field of optoelectronics. Their unique combination of transparency and electrical conductivity makes them suitable for various electronic and photonic devices. For instance, HETCs can be utilized in transparent electrodes, transparent conductive films, and even as substrates for flexible electronics.Despite their immense potential, the development of HETCs is still in its early stages, and there are numerous challenges that need to be addressed. The fabrication of these ceramics requires a precise control on the composition and processing conditions to achieve the desired properties. Also, the cost of production remains an obstacle that needs to be overcome for their widespread adoption.The fabrication of HETCs is a complex process that involves the use of high-temperature sintering techniques. HETCs are typically produced via a solid-state sintering process, in which the constituent powders are compacted and heated at high temperatures to form a dense, homogeneous material. In sintering, the constituent powders diffuse and react with one another, leading to the formation of a complex, multi-component material. Progress on the development of HETCs is made in recent years. One of the most significant achievements in this field is the development of HETCs that are transparent in the visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. HETCs with a high thermal stability is also developed for high-temperature applications.Summary and prospects High-entropy transparent ceramics represent a fascinating and promising material. Their unique combination of transparency, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity makes them highly desirable for a wide range of applications. With their development, HETCs revolutionize various industries, having some possibilities in applications like optoelectronics, thermal management, and beyond.However, the development of HETCs is still in its early stages, and there are many challenges that need to be addressed before these materials can be widely adopted. One of the main challenges is an ability to produce HETCs in a reproducible and scalable manner. HETCs are typically produced via solid-state sintering process, in which is difficult to control and scale up to industrial levels.Another challenge is an ability to tailor the properties of HETCs for specific applications. The properties of these materials can be highly complex and difficult to predict decause HETCs are composed of multiple principal elements. Therefore, a fundamental understanding for the relationship among composition, processing and properties is critical for the development of HETCs.
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HAN Wenhan, ZHU Xinghua, CHENG Gang, GUO Hao, LI Shirui, GU Bosen, LU Kailei, LU Tiecheng, YE Yucheng, QI Jianqi. Research Progress on High-Entropy Transparent Ceramics[J]. Journal of the Chinese Ceramic Society, 2024, 52(3): 945
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Received: Aug. 31, 2023
Accepted: --
Published Online: Aug. 5, 2024
The Author Email: Yucheng YE (1005636408@qq.com)
CSTR:32186.14.