https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-025-00922-5
Topical Review - Solid State and Materials
High critical current densities of body-centered cubic high-entropy alloy superconductors: recent research progress
1 Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, 3-30-1 Wajiro-higashi, Higashi-ku, 811-0295, Fukuoka, Japan
2 Department of Physics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1, Minami-osawa, 192-0397, Hachioji, Japan
3 Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kyushu Sangyo University, 2-3-1 Matsukadai, Higashi-ku, 813-8503, Fukuoka, Japan
Received:
26
January
2025
Accepted:
8
April
2025
Published online: 24 April 2025
High-entropy alloy (HEA) superconductors have garnered significant attention due to their unique characteristics, such as robust superconductivity under extremely high pressure and irradiation, the cocktail effect, and the enhancement of the upper critical field. A high critical current density is another noteworthy feature observed in HEAs. Several body-centered cubic (bcc) HEAs have exhibited critical current densities comparable to those of Nb–Ti superconducting alloys. Such HEAs hold potential for applications as multifunctional superconducting wires, a capability rarely achieved in conventional alloys. In this context, we review recent advancements in research on critical current densities in bcc HEA superconductors, including Ta1/6Nb2/6Hf1/6Zr1/6Ti1/6, (TaNb)0.7(HfZrTi)0.5, NbScTiZr, and others. Comparative analyses among these HEAs reveal that both eutectic microstructures, which accompany lattice strain, and nano-sized precipitates play pivotal roles in achieving elevated critical current densities across wide magnetic field ranges. Furthermore, we propose several future directions for research. These include elucidating the origin of lattice strain, exploring more fine eutectic microstructures, artificially introducing nanoscale pinning sites, improving the superconducting critical temperature, and investigating the mechanical properties of these materials.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, SIF and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
