A review on high entropy silicides and silicates: Fundamental aspects, synthesis, properties

Metal silicides and silicates belong to the silicon-based non-oxide and oxide ceramics family with exceptional properties. Silicides face fatal oxidation at low temperatures and intrinsic brittleness, whereas silicates face instability in phase at high temperatures which restricts its usage in vast engineering applications. Hence, the ceramic community introduced the concept of high entropy in metal silicides and silicates. Since 2019, high entropy silicides and silicates, a multicomponent system, have created new avenues for materials discovery and design. High entropy silicides displayed elevated properties than the traditional silicides aiming its applications in microelectronic, high-temperature oxidation resistance coatings, and structural materials. Similarly, high entropy silicates displayed improved properties than the traditional silicates making them the most promising materials for environmental and thermal barrier coating applications for hot section components in gas turbines. The review focuses on specific case studies to emphasize the latest research and developments in high entropy silicides and silicates. Synthesis approaches employed in developing high entropy silicides and silicates and their structural and microstructural outcomes are addressed. The possible application is predicted based on the overview of the properties explored to date. The review concludes with future possibilities offered by the high entropy silicides and silicates.