Yang Chao, Wang Beiya, Shen Gaoyuan, Wei Tao, Wu Mingxu, Tao Qingzhou, Wang Shubin, Shu Da, Sun Baode, Liaw Peter K
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced High-temperature Materials and Precision Forming and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Sci Adv. 2025 Jan 10;11(2):eadq6828. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adq6828.
Light, strong, and radiation-tolerant materials are essential for advanced nuclear systems and aerospace applications. However, the comprehensive properties of current radiation-tolerant materials are far from being satisfactory in harsh operating environments. In this study, a high-throughput-designed NbVTaSi refractory eutectic medium entropy alloy realizes the controllable formation of the β-NbSi phase with a high content and has outstanding comprehensive properties, i.e., lightweight, high yield strengths at room temperature and 850°C, and excellent He-ion irradiation resistance. According to density functional theory calculations and experimental findings, the prefabricated lattice distortion of the NbVTa phase leads to great phase stability under severe He-ion irradiation conditions, while the dual characteristics of the semi-coherent interface and hyperstatic lattice structure of the high-content β-NbSi phase dominate its outstanding He-ion irradiation resistance. This study sheds light on the design strategy for comprehensive properties and development of future radiation-tolerant materials for advanced nuclear systems and aerospace applications.
轻质、高强度且耐辐射的材料对于先进核系统和航空航天应用至关重要。然而，在恶劣的运行环境中，当前耐辐射材料的综合性能远不能令人满意。在本研究中，一种通过高通量设计的NbVTaSi难熔共晶中熵合金实现了高含量β-NbSi相的可控形成，并具有出色的综合性能，即轻质、在室温及850°C下具有高屈服强度以及优异的氦离子辐照抗性。根据密度泛函理论计算和实验结果，NbVTa相的预制晶格畸变导致在严重氦离子辐照条件下具有很高的相稳定性，而高含量β-NbSi相的半共格界面和超静定晶格结构的双重特性主导了其出色的氦离子辐照抗性。本研究为先进核系统和航空航天应用的未来耐辐射材料的综合性能设计策略和开发提供了思路。
