Progress, challenges and practical viability of high-entropy spinel ferrites

Abstract

Ferrites are one of the most studied magnetic metal oxides and play a vital role in different types of electrical and electronic devices. Although the research area of ferrites is quite developed, the introduction of entropy-stabilised ferrites after 2015 has sparked a new interest among researchers. These entropy-stabilised ferrites are called high-entropy ferrites (HEFs), and their structure contains several distinct cations within the same type of lattice vacancies. This large number of distinct cations will increase the configurational entropy and provide the necessary energy for material stabilisation. The presence of different cations within their structure can provide additional benefits for electrochemical and catalytic applications. Despite their benefits, the number of studies in this area is still limited. This study aims to provide the basic aspects of the HEFs along with their unique structure, traits and potential for different applications.