Increasing density data storage is one of the goals on the forefront of advancement, as modern devices beg for smaller designs and energy efficiency.
A team at the University of Manchester have looked at storing data at a molecular level called single-molecule magnets. Led by Dr. David Mills and Dr. Nicholas Chilton, the research showed that magnetic hysteresis—an important condition for data storage—was possible within molecules at -213 °C.
With this temperature tipping closely to that of liquid nitrogen (-196 °C), data storage on single molecules could one day be feasible. Data servers could be cooled using liquid nitrogen, which is relative cheaper than a liquid helium (-269 °C) alternative.
Shifting to molecular data storage may mean over 200 terabits of data per square inch. Breaking that figure down, 25,000 GB of data could fit in an area the size of a 50p coin.
“This is very exciting as magnetic hysteresis in single molecules implies the ability for binary data storage. Using single molecules for data storage could theoretically give 100 times higher data density than current technologies. Here we are approaching the temperature of liquid nitrogen, which would mean data storage in single molecules becomes much more viable from an economic point of view,” says Dr. Chilton.
This research could lead to smaller hard drives that consume less energy, leading to more efficient data centers worldwide.
“This advance eclipses the previous record which stood at -259 °C, and took almost 20 years of research effort to reach,” says Dr. Mills. The team is now narrowing in on higher operating temperatures, according to Dr. Mills, functioning above liquid nitrogen conditions.
To learn more, you can read the full research paper in the journal Nature.
