About this Research Topic
High entropy oxides (HEOs) are an emerging class of phase-pure systems consisting of multiple components in near-equiatomic proportion. Since their discovery in 2015, the field has rapidly grown to include numerous compositions and crystallographic structures. One of the main strengths of HEOs is their extensive compositional flexibility, which offers increased opportunities for tuning their functional properties. Several studies have highlighted a plethora of improved functionalities exhibited by HEOs. One of the areas where HEOs portray significant promise is their potential use in the next generation of energy conversion and storage devices.
Transition metal-based HEOs and their fluorides derivatives, namely the high entropy oxyfluorides (HEOFs), deliver enhanced Li-storage capacity along with prolonged cyclic stability compared to their conventional counterparts. Recent studies also highlight the potential of HEOs in post-Li-ion batteries, such as Na-ion and Li-S batteries. At the same time, perovskite- and fluorite-structured HEOs are becoming increasingly popular with regard to hydrogen-based technologies, such as fuel cells, displaying a number of unique features with regard to their functionality and stability. Thus, the primary goal of this Research Topic is to present the current state of research on HEO, HEOFs, and other closely related multicomponent materials as prospective electrodes or electrolytes for high-performance battery and fuel cells applications.
Apart from the applied perspective, focus will also be placed on the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms governing the observed electrochemical and transport properties in these complex materials. Although hitherto studies hint towards the fact that the synergistic effect stemming from the presence of multiple components and the entropy mediated phase compositions promote the aforementioned performances, detailed understanding of these effects is still to be unraveled.
We welcome the authors to submit Original Research Papers, Perspectives, Reviews, Minireviews, and Short Communications on the following topics:
• Design and development of HEOs/HEOFs based electrodes and electrolytes materials
• Synthesis and processing routes of HEOs/HEOFs for improved battery and fuel cell performances
• Possible use of HEOs/HEOFs based systems in post Li-ion batteries (Na+, Zn2+, F-, etc.)
• Underlying mechanisms in HEOs/HEOFs batteries and fuel cells
• Advanced characterization techniques for studying HEOs/HEOFs batteries and fuel cells
• Computation-accelerated designs HEOs/HEOFs for advanced battery and fuel cells applications
Keywords: High Entropy Materials, Electrodes, Electrolytes, Batteries, Fuel Cells
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
