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Spinel oxides are metal oxides with the general formula AB2O4 and the spinel structure, where A and B represent different cations located at tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites. High-entropy spinel oxides (HESOs) contain five or more cations in these positions and have a single-phase crystal structure. These oxides have specific characteristics which make them suitable for a multitude of technological applications (e.g., catalysts, adsorbents, photocatalysts, sensors). Since the pioneering work of Dąbrowa and associates in 2018, various researchers have worked on the synthesis of HESOs, using different precursors and methods, as well as on investigating their properties.

My research focuses on synthesizing HESOs by utilizing the self-propagating room temperature (SPRT) method, which has not been used for this purpose in previous research. The main advantages of this approach are its time- and cost-effectiveness. Using it, I was able to synthesize single-phased high entropy spinel oxides of different compositions. After the synthesis, which produces samples in powder form, spark plasma sintering (SPS) is utilized in order to achieve densification. The sintering process occurs very fast and results in high-density ceramics.

Further steps of my PhD research will include assessing the structural, mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and other properties of the synthesized and processed samples. The ultimate goal is to contribute to both theoretical understanding and practical application of these materials.

Emilija Nidžović

Department of Materials, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

emilija.nidzovic@vin.bg.ac.rs