Development of High-Strength Bulk Nano-Architected High Entropy Alloy with Superb Energy-Absorbing Capacity by Selective Electrochemical Dealloying

Energy-absorbing materials have garnered significant attention in industries such as aerospace and transportation. Traditionally, these materials were designed around cellular structures. However, a recent trend towards nano-architected materials, manufactured through additive manufacturing like 3D printing, has emerged to address the common strength-plasticity tradeoff found in conventional options. Despite substantial efforts invested in this field, upscaling printed nano-architected materials remains a notable hurdle. This proposal aims to address these challenges by developing bulk nano-architected high-entropy alloys. Our research begins with designing highentropy spinodal alloys featuring bi-continuous phases as precursor materials by utilizing machine learning. We intend to develop a cost-effective but efficient electrochemical dealloying technique to form nano-architectures within these highentropyalloy precursors via selective electrochemical dealloying. Our preliminary results suggest that this innovative method can successfully pinpoint high-entropy spinodal alloys within a quinary alloy system. These alloys can then be leveraged to fabricate bulk nano-architected energy-absorbing materials with exceptional strength and plasticity, surpassing current materials in published literature. However, understanding the mechanisms behind these superior properties and assessing the general applicability of this approach remain crucial. If funded, our plan is to broaden our methodology to encompass more intricate multicomponent systems with practical engineering applications. Our primary focus will be on investigating the mechanisms responsible for the high strength, excellent plasticity, and superior fracture resistance demonstrated by bulk nano-architected high-entropy alloys produced through dealloying. This investigation will be carried out through collaborative research efforts combining multiscale experiments and simulations.