Reactive Flash Sintering of High-Entropy Oxide (Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn)_1-xLi_xO at Room Temperature

(Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn)_1-xLi_xO is a type of high-entropy oxide that has high ionic conductivity at room temperature and is used as a solid electrolyte. (Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn)_1-xLi_xO was successfully synthesized from precursor powder by applying reactive flash sintering for less than 4 min at room temperature (25 °C). AC and DC electric fields were independently applied to sinter ceramic samples; consequently, AC and DC electric field application resulted in relative densities that exceeded 90% and 80%, respectively. X-ray diffraction spectra of samples revealed the existence of a clear halite structure with an insignificant impurity phase, proving that (Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn)_1-xLi_xO crystals were successfully produced.