Synthesis methods and applications of high entropy nanoparticles

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are an important research direction in the materials science field and engineering field. Different from traditional alloys which usually contain only one basic element and infrequently two, HEAs are made up of many major elements in much larger numbers. With impressive mechanical properties, impressive corrosion resistance and superior thermal stability, HEAs offer overwhelming advantages over conventional alloys. HEAs have received a lot of attention due to its unique concept and performance. In recent years, many researchers have prepared HEAs at the nanometer level, and the obtained high-entropy nanoparticles (HEA-NPs) have been extensively used in multifarious fields. This paper reviews the main characteristics, core effects, conventional synthesis methods and their applications in various fields of HEA-NPs. Furthermore, the vast space to be explored is discussed and the future development direction and outlook are outlined productively. Graphical abstract