Phase-Change Materials for Volatile Threshold Resistive Switching and Neuronal Device Applications

Volatile threshold resistive switching and neuronal oscillations in phase-change materials, specifically those undergoing 'metal-to-insulator' transitions, offer unique attributes such as fast and low-field volatile switching, tunability, and stochastic dynamics. These characteristics are particularly promising for emulating neuronal behaviors and solving complex computational problems. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the development of volatile resistive switching devices and neuronal oscillators based on three representative materials with coincident electronic and structural phase transitions, at different levels of technological readiness: the well-studied correlated oxide VO₂, the charge-density-wave transition metal dichalcogenide 1T-TaS₂, and the emerging phase-change complex chalcogenide BaTiS₃. We discuss progresses from the perspective of materials development and device implementation. Finally, we emphasize the major challenges that must be addressed for practical applications of these phase-change materials and provides outlook on the future research directions in this rapidly evolving field.