A Novel Cu and Ag Bearing High‐Entropy Alloy With Remarkable Antibacterial, Antiviral and Anti‐Microbial Corrosion Performances

Abstract The development of antibacterial and antiviral high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) incorporating copper has attracted widespread attention. However, the segregation of Cu in HEAs can result in detrimental effects on their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Herein, two novel HEAs, CoCrCu_0.3FeNi‐Ag_{(1.8 wt.%)} (Cu‐AgHEA) and CoCrFeNi‐Ag_0.6 (AgHEA), are designed to address these concerns. The yield strength of Cu‐AgHEA is approximately 400 MPa, surpassing those of CoCrCuFeNi (CuHEA) by 1.3 times, and 304 stainless steel by 1.9 times. The abiotic corrosion resistance of Cu‐AgHEA is one order of magnitude greater than that of CuHEA. Moreover, Cu‐AgHEA demonstrates a remarkable antibacterial efficacy of 99.9% against marine bacteria, surpassing that of AgHEA. The very good bactericidal effect of Cu‐AgHEA is attributed to the increased release of Cu and Ag ions, leading to higher concentrations of reactive oxygen species causing bacterial cell damage. Furthermore, Cu‐AgHEA imparts remarkable antiviral characteristics. After 24‐hour treatment, the Cu‐AgHEA surface effectively deactivated approximately 99% of SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) virus, rendering it non‐infectious. These findings present an attractive route to advance materials that integrate structure and function, resulting in exceptional overall performances.