The team found that when vanadium dioxide is heated it changes from an insulator to a conductor in less than a tenth of a billionth of a second. The discovery could lead to the creation of new types of computer memory and, eventually, artificial intelligence.
Scientists have previously tried to create artificial intelligence by mimicking the workings of the human brain with electronic circuits. However, they have had little success as they do not behave in the same way. They are also difficult to miniaturise because they need large circuitry.
The team believes that their discovery could be used to create ‘neuromorphic’ devices – which work in a similar way to the human brain.
The discovery was made by accident while the researchers were investigating how electrons flow through vanadium dioxide.
They found that when the material was heated, it changed from an insulator to a conductor in just a few femtoseconds. This is the fastest change ever observed in any material.
The team then realised that the material could be used to create a new type of computer memory.
The material can ‘remember’ its previous state, meaning it can store data. This is similar to how the human brain remembers information.
The team believes that the material could be used to create ‘neuromorphic’ devices – which work in a similar way to the human brain.
Eventually, this could lead to the development of artificial intelligence.
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