2024 IRG-1: Reversible Enhancement of Electronic Conduction caused by Phase Transformation and Interfacial Segregation in an Entropy Stabilized Oxide
•Heat treatment-induced phase transformation enhances the electronic conductivity of grain interior in entropy stabilized oxides (ESOs) by tuning grain defect chemistry, as second phases segregate to the grain boundaries (GBs).
•This work demonstrates the potential to selectively grow second phases at GBs and in grains of ESOs with heat treatment, thereby tuning the electrical properties using microstructure design, nanoscale engineering, paving the way to develop many novel materials.
•Our findings reveal the relationship between structure and composition interfaces with enhanced electronic transport of a complex concentrated oxide, which is a primary objective of IRG-1.
Hasti Vahidi, Alexander D. Dupuy, Benjamin X. Lam, Justin Cortez, Pulkit Garg, Timothy J. Rupert, Julie M. Schoenung, and William J. Bowman