Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42812122›Full record

ReviewAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)2026

Understanding and Designing Phase Change Materials: Insights From Atom Probe Tomography.

Jan Köttgen, Nils von den Driesch, Alexander Pawlis, Matthias Wuttig

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jan KöttgenInstitute of Physics IA, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9970-5155
Nils von den DrieschPeter-Grünberg-Institute - JARA-Institute Energy Efficient Information Technology (PGI-10) Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, Jülich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0169-6110
Alexander PawlisPeter-Grünberg-Institute - JARA-Institute Energy Efficient Information Technology (PGI-10) Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, Jülich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3394-0707
Matthias WuttigInstitute of Physics IA, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1498-1025

Funding

Federal Ministry of ResearchNHR Center NHR4CES at RWTH Aachen University p0020357Technology and Space BMFTR 03ZU2106BA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can be rapidly and reversibly switched between their amorphous and crystalline state; a transition that is accompanied by a pronounced change of optoelectronic properties. Here, progress is reviewed to explain these property changes, focusing on advances by atom probe tomography (APT). This technique classifies bonding by providing two crucial bonding descriptors. Most important is the Probability of Multiple Events (PME), which is related to the likelihood that more than one ion is dislodged per successful laser pulse in laser-assisted field evaporation. Crystalline PCMs are characterized by a PME above 55%, not found for metals or iono-covalent solids. This confirms that crystalline PCMs employ a unique bonding mechanism coined metavalent bonding (MVB). While crystalline PCMs employ MVB, amorphous PCMs behave as covalent solids characterized by a much lower PME. PCMs thus change their bonding upon crystallization, consistent with quantum-chemical calculations of bonding. Crystalline solids with a high PME lie in a narrow conductivity range between metals and iono-covalent solids, indicative for a competition between electron localization and delocalization. A map quantifying chemical bonding locates metavalent solids in a region where approximately one electron is shared between adjacent atoms and bonding is not too ionic. This quantum chemical bonding map is now used to find and explain property trends relevant for PCMs in various application domains.

Indexed as

atom probe tomographybonding – property relationshipbond rupturematerial classificationmaterials design metavalent bondingphase change materials

Identifiers

PMID42812122
PMCPMC13624867

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.