High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have become a topic of high research interest due to the excellent mechanical properties that can be found in this new type of materials. However, their functional properties are usually modest when compared to conventional materials. The discovery of high-entropy alloys with an optimal combination of mechanical and functional properties would be a leap forward in the reliability of devices that use them as functional elements. This Research Update focuses on magnetocaloric HEAs, showing that a directed search strategy allows us to improve their performance in a significant way, closing the pre-existing gap between magnetocaloric HEAs and high-performance magnetocaloric materials. Further challenges that remain in this line of research are highlighted.

中文翻译：

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突破磁热高熵合金的极限

由于这种新型材料具有优异的机械性能，高熵合金 (HEA) 已成为研究热点。然而，与传统材料相比，它们的功能特性通常是适中的。具有机械和功能特性最佳组合的高熵合金的发现将是使用它们作为功能元件的设备可靠性的一个飞跃。本研究更新侧重于磁热 HEA，表明定向搜索策略使我们能够显着提高其性能，缩小磁热 HEA 与高性能磁热材料之间的现有差距。强调了这一研究领域中仍然存在的进一步挑战。