Comparing forward and inverse design paradigms: A case study on refractory high-entropy alloys

The rapid design of advanced materials is a topic of great scientific interest. The conventional “forward” paradigm of materials design involves evaluating multiple candidates to determine the best candidate that matches the target properties. However, recent advances in the field of deep learning have given rise to the possibility of an “inverse” design paradigm for advanced materials, wherein a model provided with the target properties is able to find the best candidate. Being a relatively new concept, there remains a need to systematically evaluate how these two paradigms perform in practical applications. Therefore, the objective of this study is to directly, quantitatively compare the forward and inverse design modeling paradigms. We do so by considering two case studies of refractory high-entropy alloy design with different objectives and constraints and comparing the inverse design method to other forward schemes like localized forward search, high-throughput screening, and multi-objective optimization. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].