Low-Dimensional High-Entropy Materials

High-entropy concept originates from high-entropy alloys, which is used to describe a class of single-phase materials containing five or more elements in relatively high concentrations (5~35 at.%). Using high-entropy concept to design novel materials is one of the emerging hot topics in materials field. Very recently, the high-entropy concept has been expanded to the field of low-dimensional materials. Low-dimensional high-entropy materials, including zero-dimensional (0D, e.g., nanoparticles, nanodots), one-dimensional (1D, e.g., nanofibers, nanowires) and two-dimensional (2D, e.g., nanosheets, nanoflakes), have been successfully synthesized through various techniques, such as carbothermal shock technique for high-entropy nanoparticles, electrospinning technique for high-entropy nanofibers, solvothermal and chemical exfoliation techniques for high-entropy 2D materials. By combining the disorder-induced unique electronic structure with the high specific surface area, low-dimensional high-entropy materials have demonstrated great potentials in thermal, optical, electrical, catalytic and sensing applications.

There is an increased interest in low-dimensional high-entropy materials, covering high-entropy oxides, high-entropy hydroxides, high-entropy carbides (MXenes), high-entropy sulfides, etc. The studies on low-dimensional high-entropy materials are at a nascent stage, many questions in fundamental synthesis science, microstructural features and applications of low-dimensional high-entropy materials are yet to be clarified. The purpose of this Research Topic is therefore to highlight the recent advances in the development of low-dimensional high-entropy materials, to illustrate the synergistic effect between disorder and surface at the nanoscale in low-dimensional high-entropy materials, to reveal the multi-element synergies in wide applications of low-dimensional high-entropy materials, and to provide in-depth understanding for the development of low-dimensional high-entropy materials.

This Research Topic aims to cover recent advances in various aspects of the low-dimensional high-entropy materials and their composite materials, including, but not limited to,
• novel methods for synthesizing low-dimensional high-entropy materials
• novel techniques for characterizing low-dimensional high-entropy materials
• novel structures of low-dimensional high-entropy materials
• novel properties and applications of low-dimensional high-entropy materials
• comprehensive review, perspective, or comments to the low-dimensional high-entropy materials

Keywords: high-entropy materials, low-dimensional materials, functional materials, nanosheets, nanofibers, nanoparticles

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