High-entropy strategy: an effective paradigm to address challenges in rechargeable battery materials

Abstract

The rapid advancement of rechargeable batteries is crucial for meeting growing global energy storage demands. High-entropy materials (HEMs), which incorporate multiple principal elements in near equimolar ratios, have recently emerged as a promising paradigm for designing next generation electrodes. Their high configurational entropy introduces unique effects (structural stabilization, lattice distortion, high defect density, and synergistic cocktail interactions) that collectively address longstanding challenges in battery materials, such as capacity fade, structural degradation, and slow ion transport. This review systematically examines how these entropy-derived effects translate into electrode performance advantages, including low volumetric strain, suppression of phase transitions, facilitated conversion reactions, enhanced ion transport pathways, disorder-promoted ion diffusion, and multi-element synergy. By correlating fundamental mechanisms with electrochemical performance across various materials, we provide a perspective on the influence of the entropy derivation effect on electrode materials. Finally, we outline prevailing challenges and future research directions in synthesis, theoretical modeling, and compositional optimization, aiming to guide the rational development of high-performance and entropy-stabilized battery materials.