journal article·2026-01Open access

Homogenization of Post‐Transition Metal Alloys into High‐Entropy‐Like Nanoparticles

Francois‐Marie Allioux, Luis G. B. Campos, Yuqin Wang, Yu Yang, Mohammad B. Ghasemian, Moonika S. Widjajana, Shih‐Hao Chiu, Nur‐Adania Nor‐Azman, Md. Hasan Al Banna, Ziling Zhang, Hongwei Liu, Rahman Daiyan, Jianbo Tang, Fengwang Li, Xiaozhou Liao, Priyank Kumar, Kourosh Kalantar‐Zadeh

Small· Volume 22· Issue 3

Abstract

Abstract Presently, the most common high‐entropy systems are formed from the mixing of immiscible transition metals under extreme conditions. Here, a new class of high‐entropy‐like nanoparticles is reported, based entirely on post‐transition metals, Ga, In, Sn, Zn, and Bi, which undergo core‐level nanoscale homogenization via low‐temperature sonication. Starting from a bulk high‐entropy‐like melt, with clear phase segregation, including Ga‐rich, Zn‐rich, and Bi‐rich domains, ultrasonic agitation is applied to disrupt their immiscibility. The resulting cavitation and shear forces promote rapid mixing and atomic‐level diffusion, forming uniformly distributed high‐entropy‐like, compositionally complex nanoparticles with a core‐shell structure. When applied for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction, the nanoparticles exhibit high current densities with a selectivity toward formates. The finding demonstrates a scalable route to high‐entropy‐like nanoparticles derived from post‐transition metals, circumventing the need for high‐temperature or shock‐based synthesis, while also expanding the compositional space into softer, low‐melting‐point systems.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: High Entropy Alloys Studies · Nanoporous metals and alloys · Shape Memory Alloy Transformations

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering The University of Sydney Darlington NSW 2008 Australia

School of Chemical Engineering University of New South Wales (UNSW) Kensington NSW 2052 Australia

School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering The University of New South Wales Sydney Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

The Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis The University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Research Center for Industries of the Future Westlake University Hangzhou Zhejiang 310030 China

School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering The University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2008 Australia

Funding

Australian Research Council

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