High-entropy intermetallics: from alloy design to structural and functional properties

Conventional intermetallics are strong but brittle. However, multi-principal element intermetallics, also termed as high-entropy intermetallics (HEIs) in the recent high-entropy alloy literature, are strong but malleable, some of which even show appreciable ductility and fracture toughness at room temperature. In this article, we provide a focused review on the recent researches on HEIs, from the fundamentals, such as the concept of HEIs, the formation rules to the structural and functional properties of HEIs. The results hitherto reported clearly show that the HEIs with distinct properties could be a promising material for future structural and functional applications.Graphical Abstract