High-Entropy Materials for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption and EMI Shielding

Abstract

High-entropy materials (HEMs) have emerged as a novel class of functional materials that exhibit outstanding mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties due to their unique atomic-scale features, such as high configurational entropy, lattice distortion, sluggish diffusion, and the cocktail effect. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the synthesis, structure, and electromagnetic performance of HEMs, with a particular focus on electromagnetic wave absorption and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. Unlike previous reviews that focused on specific material types or general trends, this work systematically analyzes all major categories of HEMs—including alloys, ceramics, and composites—by correlating synthesis methods, microstructural characteristics, and electromagnetic properties. By identifying structure–property–processing relationships, this review highlights key mechanisms driving electromagnetic performance and outlines current challenges and future research directions. This unified perspective aims to guide the rational design of next-generation HEM-based materials for advanced electromagnetic applications.