Thermodynamics of self-oscillations in VO2 for spiking solid-state neurons

Abstract

Neuron-like mechanisms under DC bias are observed in two-port VO2 pads. We investigate these self-oscillations responses for different types of VO2 and uncovered an underlying story common to all materials on how self-oscillations arise. From the electronic responses measured as a function of temperature and time, we determined three precise conditions inducing self-oscillations and very large current spikes. Rather than being caused by an electronic capacitance as previously understood, we prove that such self-oscillations are caused by thermodynamic interactions entirely predicted by material constants. These calculations should extend to other materials, enabling the design of various low-power thermoelectronic computing circuits.