Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentials

Abstract Chemical short-range order (SRO) affects the distribution of elements throughout the solid-solution phase of metallic alloys, thereby modifying the background against which microstructural evolution occurs. Investigating such chemistry–microstructure relationships requires atomistic models...

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Main Authors: Yifan Cao, Killian Sheriff, Rodrigo Freitas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:npj Computational Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01722-2
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author Yifan Cao
Killian Sheriff
Rodrigo Freitas
author_facet Yifan Cao
Killian Sheriff
Rodrigo Freitas
author_sort Yifan Cao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Chemical short-range order (SRO) affects the distribution of elements throughout the solid-solution phase of metallic alloys, thereby modifying the background against which microstructural evolution occurs. Investigating such chemistry–microstructure relationships requires atomistic models that act at the appropriate length scales while capturing the intricacies of chemical bonds leading to SRO. Here, we consider various approaches for the construction of training data sets for machine learning potentials (MLPs) for CrCoNi and evaluate their performance in capturing SRO and its effects on materials quantities of relevance for mechanical properties, such as stacking-fault energy and phase stability. It is demonstrated that energy accuracy on test sets often does not correlate with accuracy in capturing material properties, which is fundamental in enabling large-scale atomistic simulations of metallic alloys with high physical fidelity. Based on this analysis, we systematically derive design principles for the rational construction of MLPs that capture SRO in the crystal and liquid phases of alloys.
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spelling doaj-art-fa229570794a4e9782bd6645cd46158d2025-08-24T11:40:11ZengNature Portfolionpj Computational Materials2057-39602025-08-0111111110.1038/s41524-025-01722-2Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentialsYifan Cao0Killian Sheriff1Rodrigo Freitas2Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyAbstract Chemical short-range order (SRO) affects the distribution of elements throughout the solid-solution phase of metallic alloys, thereby modifying the background against which microstructural evolution occurs. Investigating such chemistry–microstructure relationships requires atomistic models that act at the appropriate length scales while capturing the intricacies of chemical bonds leading to SRO. Here, we consider various approaches for the construction of training data sets for machine learning potentials (MLPs) for CrCoNi and evaluate their performance in capturing SRO and its effects on materials quantities of relevance for mechanical properties, such as stacking-fault energy and phase stability. It is demonstrated that energy accuracy on test sets often does not correlate with accuracy in capturing material properties, which is fundamental in enabling large-scale atomistic simulations of metallic alloys with high physical fidelity. Based on this analysis, we systematically derive design principles for the rational construction of MLPs that capture SRO in the crystal and liquid phases of alloys.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01722-2
spellingShingle Yifan Cao
Killian Sheriff
Rodrigo Freitas
Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentials
npj Computational Materials
title Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentials
title_full Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentials
title_fullStr Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentials
title_full_unstemmed Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentials
title_short Capturing short-range order in high-entropy alloys with machine learning potentials
title_sort capturing short range order in high entropy alloys with machine learning potentials
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01722-2
work_keys_str_mv AT yifancao capturingshortrangeorderinhighentropyalloyswithmachinelearningpotentials
AT killiansheriff capturingshortrangeorderinhighentropyalloyswithmachinelearningpotentials
AT rodrigofreitas capturingshortrangeorderinhighentropyalloyswithmachinelearningpotentials