From smartphones to supercomputers, the growing need for smaller and more energy efficient devices has made higher density data storage one of the most important technological quests.
Now scientists at the University of Manchester have proved that storing data with a class of molecules known as single-molecule magnets is more feasible than previously thought.
The research, led by Dr David Mills and Dr Nicholas Chilton, from the School of Chemistry, is being published in Nature. It shows that magnetic hysteresis, a memory effect that is a prerequisite of any data storage, is possible in individual molecules at -213 °C. This is tantalisingly close to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196 °C).
The result means that data storage with single molecules could become a reality because the data servers could be cooled using relatively cheap liquid nitrogen at -196°C instead of far more expensive liquid helium (-269 °C). The research provides proof-of-concept that such technologies could be achievable in the near future.
The potential for molecular data storage is huge. To put it into a consumer context, molecular technologies could store more than 200 terabits of data per square inch – that’s 25,000 GB of information stored in something approximately the size of a 50p coin, compared to Apple’s latest iPhone 7 with a maximum storage of 256 GB.
Single-molecule magnets display a magnetic memory effect that is a requirement of any data storage and molecules containing lanthanide atoms have exhibited this phenomenon at the highest temperatures to date. Lanthanides are rare earth metals used in all forms of everyday electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. The team achieved their results using the lanthanide element dysprosium.
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.
Dr Nicholas Chilton
The practical applications of molecular-level data storage could lead to much smaller hard drives that require less energy, meaning data centres across the globe could become a lot more energy efficient.
For example, Google currently has 15 data centres around the world. They process an average of 40 million searches per second, resulting in 3.5 billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year. To deal with all that data, in July last year, it was reportedthat Google had approximately 2.5 million servers in each data centre and that number was likely to rise.
Some reports say the energy consumed at such centres could account for as much as 2 per cent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. This means any improvement in data storage and energy efficiency could also have huge benefits for the environment as well as vastly increasing the amount of information that can be stored.
Dr Mills adds: ‘This advance eclipses the previous record which stood at -259 °C, and took almost 20 years of research effort to reach. We are now focused on the preparation of new molecules inspired by the design in this paper. Our aim is to achieve even higher operating temperatures in the future, ideally functioning above liquid nitrogen temperatures.’
Learn more: Major leap towards storing data at the molecular level
The Latest on: Molecular data storage
[google_news title=”” keyword=”molecular data storage” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]- Advances In Memory Transistor Technologyon May 6, 2024 at 4:21 am
The latest in memory transistor technology improves data storage and processing, affecting areas like microelectronics and optoelectronics.
- First steps toward a whole-body map of molecular responses to exerciseon May 5, 2024 at 5:50 am
Research definitively confirms that muscle-moving, calorie-burning activity slows the advance of disease, improves cognitive function, boosts the immune system, and reduces rates of mortality from all ...
- GenePix SL50 Automated Slide Loader from Molecular Deviceson May 4, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The seamless communication among scanner, slide loader, and software ensures unmatched efficiency for data acquisition and ... Easy to Integrate Slide Storage: Each system is supplied with two ...
- UVM scientists decode exercise's molecular impacton May 3, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Research Technician Sandra May checks new samples into the UVM Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research, a key site for the pioneering eight-year MoTrPAC study. Photo courtesy of University of ...
- Study reveals molecular changes in 19 organs due to exerciseon May 2, 2024 at 12:25 pm
The health benefits of exercise are well known but new research shows that the body's response to exercise is more complex and far-reaching than previously thought.
- Molecular biologyon April 22, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Molecular biology is concerned with understanding processes in living organisms at a molecular level, as well as the chemical and physical structure of macromolecules. Molecular biologists focus on ...
- Evolving From Discrete Molecular Data Integrations to Actionable Molecular Insights Within the Electronic Health Recordon April 10, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Clinical trial enrollment, where discrete molecular data elements are parsed by computer systems to expedite clinical trial matching. For example, just-in-time clinical trial models can use EHR ...
- Molecular Omicson April 9, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Molecular Omics articles report research that significantly increases understanding or demonstrates clear functional benefits, supported by experimental validation or a novel data analytic approach.
- Integrated dataset enables genes-to-ecosystems researchon April 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A new dataset bridging molecular ... advance soil carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions." The complete dataset comprises more than 25 terabytes. Links to the data are available ...
- First-of-its-kind integrated dataset enables genes-to-ecosystems researchon April 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A team of Department of Energy scientists led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory has released the first-ever dataset bridging molecular ... and natural carbon storage. The data, described in ...
via Google News and Bing News