An Atomic Hourglass and Thermometer Based on Diffusion of a Mobile Dopant in VO2.

Transformations between different atomic configurations of a material oftentimes bring about dramatic changes in func-tional properties as a result of the simultaneous alteration of both atomistic and electronic structure. The control of transformation barriers between polytypes is generally an immutable process tunable through compositional modifica-tion. Continuous, stimulus driven, modulation in phase stabilities remains a significant challenge. Utilizing the metal-insulator transition of VO2, we exemplify that mobile dopants weakly coupled to the lattice provide a means of imbuing a reversible and dynamical modulation of the phase transformation. Remarkably, we observe a time and temperature-dependent evolution of the relative phase stabilities of the M1 and R phases of VO2 in an "hourglass" fashion through the relaxation of interstitial boron species corresponding to a 50°C modulation of the transition temperature achieved within the same sample. The material functions both as a chronometer and a thermometer and is "reset" by the phase transition. Materials possessing memory of thermal history have future promise in applications such as neuromorphic computing, atomic clocks, thermometry, and sensing.

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