Decoding the hidden dynamics of super-Arrhenius hydrogen diffusion in multi-principal element alloys via machine learning

Journal Article (2025)
Authors

Fei Shuang (TU Delft - Team Poulumi Dey)

Yucheng Ji (University of Science and Technology Beijing, TU Delft - Materials Science and Engineering)

Zixiong Wei (TU Delft - Team Poulumi Dey)

Chaofang Dong (University of Science and Technology Beijing)

Wei Gao (Texas A&M University)

L. Laurenti (TU Delft - Team Luca Laurenti)

Poulumi Dey (TU Delft - Team Poulumi Dey)

Research Group
Team Poulumi Dey
To reference this document use:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.120924
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Research Group
Team Poulumi Dey
Volume number
289
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.120924
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Abstract

Understanding atomic hydrogen (H) diffusion in multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) is crucial for enhancing hydrogen transport and storage technologies. However, the vast compositional space and complex chemical environments of MPEAs pose significant challenges. We develop highly accurate machine learning force field and neural network-driven kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to investigate H diffusion in body-centered cubic (BCC) MoNbTaW MPEAs. H diffusion exhibits super-Arrhenius behavior in MPEAs, dominated by the low percentile of the H solution energy spectrum. Robust analytical models are derived via machine learning symbolic regression to predict H diffusivity across general BCC MPEAs. Additionally, it is revealed that chemical short-range order (SRO) generally does not impact H diffusion in MoNbTaW MPEAs, except it enhances diffusion when H-favoring elements are present in low concentrations. These insights not only deepen our understanding of H diffusion dynamics in MPEAs but also guide the strategic development of advanced MPEAs for hydrogen-related applications by manipulating element type, composition, and SRO.