Stable high-entropy TiZrHfNbVCrMoMnFeCoNiAl Laves phase

Recent researches in the field of high-entropy materials reveal an intriguing result: the multi-component systems combining the chemical elements with diverse valencies and radii can form single-phase solid solutions with the structure of intermetallic Laves phases. Here we report the fabrication of hexagonal Laves phase (C14, prototype MgZn2) in duodenary TiZrHfNbVCrMoMnFeCoNiAl alloy. The phase is stable after the thermal treatment at 973 K for 50 h. To characterize the material, we examine its electrical conductivity and magnetic properties. The measurements reveal that the Laves phase is a Curie-Weiss paramagnet, which demonstrates metallic conduction and a pronounced Kondo-like anomaly at 80 K. Analysis of experimental data as well as ab initio calculations suggests that chemical complexity and compositional disorder cause strong s-d band scattering and thus the rather high density of d-states in the conduction band. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Recent research has shown that multi-component systems can form single-phase solid solutions with intermetallic Laves phase structure by combining chemical elements with diverse valencies and radii. A stable hexagonal Laves phase was successfully fabricated in a duodenary alloy, with investigations conducted on its electrical conductivity and magnetic properties. The phase exhibited metallic conduction and a Kondo-like anomaly at 80 K, attributed to strong s-d band scattering caused by chemical complexity and compositional disorder.