Room-temperature method makes alloys without high furnace heat

Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a novel room-temperature method to create high-entropy alloys (HEAs) without the need for traditional high-heat furnaces. Unlike conventional alloy production, which requires heating metals to extreme temperatures to achieve atomic disorder, the team used liquid gallium at mild temperatures (25–80°C) to rapidly form HEAs. By dissolving metal salts in water and reacting them with molten gallium, metals shed chlorine atoms and merge into stable, durable HEAs almost instantly. This breakthrough was inspired by real-time atomic-scale observations using liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy, which revealed unexpected bonding behaviors and rapid transitions from amorphous liquid metal to crystalline structures. The new process allows for scalable production of HEAs with customizable strength and crystal structures, holding significant promise for various industrial applications. Potential uses include efficient catalysts for batteries and fuel cells, aerospace components requiring high strength and resilience, and mineral recovery from wastewater in mining and geothermal operations. The team is also collaborating with UC Berkeley