Comparison of preparation, morphology, and performance of 

high-entropy soft magnetic alloy fibers

The research team led by Professor Yang Weiming from the School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, in collaboration with other researchers, published a paper titled "A one-step fabrication of soft-magnetic high-entropy alloy fiber with excellent strength and flexibility" in Nature Communications. CUMT is the primary affiliation for this publication. The co-first authors are Ma Yan, a doctoral student from our School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, and Kou Zongde, a lecturer from Nanjing University of Science and Technology. This marks the first time that a doctoral student currently enrolled at our university has been the first author on a paper published in a Nature journal. The corresponding authors are Professor Yang Weiming from School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering and Researcher Li Jiawei from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Other collaborators include Professor Liu Haishun from China University of Mining and Technology and Professor Li Zhiming from Central South University, among others.

High-performance soft magnetic alloy fibers play a crucial role in energy conversion, transmission, and storage. Traditional amorphous alloy fibers are renowned for their superior soft magnetic properties; however, they exhibit virtually no tensile ductility, which limits their application in scenarios requiring mechanical flexibility. With the advancement of high-tech equipment, multifunctional composite materials, and flexible electronics, there is an increasing demand for micron-scale soft magnetic fibers that can endure tensile, torsional, and shear loads over extended periods of service. For a long time, the preparation of high-entropy alloy (HEA) fibers that combine excellent soft magnetic properties with robust mechanical properties has been a significant challenge.

To address the aforementioned challenges, Professor Yang Weiming from School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, in collaboration with Researcher Li Jiawei from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other researchers, have developed a novel approach using internal circular water spinning technology. This one-step method successfully fabricates high-entropy soft magnetic alloy fibers with diameters below 200 micrometers. The resulting quenched soft magnetic fibers exhibit remarkable mechanical and magnetic properties: tensile strength of 674 MPa at an elongation of 23%, coercivity (Hc) of 8.10e, saturation magnetization (Ms) of 116 emu/g, and curie temperature (Tc) of 770 K. This innovative work provides a new pathway for the preparation of high-performance soft magnetic fibers. By achieving a balance between mechanical strength and magnetic properties, this research paves the way for the broader application of high-entropy alloys in various high-tech fields.