Preparation of High‐Entropy Monazite Phosphate Glass‐Ceramics by One‐Step Melting Heat Treatment Method

ABSTRACT A high‐entropy monazite phosphate glass‐ceramic was prepared through a one‐step melting heat treatment method. The specific chemical composition is (100− x )(30Fe 2 O 3 –10B 2 O 3 –60P 2 O 5 )‐ x (La 1/5 Ce 1/5 Nd 1/5 Sm 1/5 Gd 1/5 )PO 4 (mol%), where La, Ce, Nd, Sm, and Gd were simulated for minor actinide. The phase composition and microstructure of the high‐entropy glass‐ceramics were systematically characterized by XRD and SEM‐EDS. The results indicate that the glass‐ceramics contain only a single crystalline phase, identified as (La 1/5 Ce 1/5 Nd 1/5 Sm 1/5 Gd 1/5 )PO 4 . To determine the optimal heat treatment conditions, the crystallization behavior of the representative composition ( x = 20) was investigated using DSC. The optimal nucleation and crystallization temperature ranges for the Ln 20 glass‐ceramic are identified to be 590–630°C and 740–790°C, respectively.