Research & Development World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Chemical Solution Could Be Key to Data Storage

By Ryan Bushey | June 22, 2017

An unconventional technique could help shrink the amount of space current systems use for traditional data storage.

Chemists from Case Western Reserve University created a platform using polymer films that have two dye molecules, which can optically store data in quaternary code. This type of code differs from its binary counterpart because it uses symbols instead of numbers to represent information.

A test was conducted where the team loaded a small amount of the two dye molecules onto a flexible sheet of clear and colorless ambient light polymer film called PMMA.

One dye,  cyano-substituted oligo (p-phenyene vinylene), is able to fluoresce green from exposure to heat while the second dye, o-nitrobenzyl ester of benzoic acid, can fluoresce ultramarine when exposed to ultraviolet light. Exposing the overlapping dyes to both heat and UV rays makes them fluoresce cyan.

Next, the researchers produced the code by laying metal or wood templates over the dye-containing film and then applying heat and ultraviolet light. The length of the finished templates were 300 micrometers across with 200 micrometers between them. 

A litany of tests were then conducted, including writing on the templates with finished marker, submerging them in boiling water, and even rubbing the surface with sandpaper. The code remained durable throughout all tests.

“We’re using chemistry instead of engineering to address data storage, but it’s really complementary to what engineers are doing,” said Emily Pentzer, assistant professor of chemistry at Case Western Reserve and study author, in a statement.

Pentzer noted that this form of code could be easily replicated with the system used in this experiment.

More experiments will be conducted where the team will test specialized lasers aimed at shrinking the spatial resolution in an effort to increase data density.

The team will also explore if incorporating a third dye into the mixture can elicit responses to different stimuli and remain distinct from the other components.

Ultimately, this could allow the researchers to store data through a septenary allowing for further shrinking storage.

The study was published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C.

Related Articles Read More >

A new wave of metalworking lets semiconductor crystals bend and stretch
SLAC–Stanford team captures protein‑free RNA megastructures in bacteria
Visible‑light photoenzymes craft drug‑relevant β‑lactams and cyclobutanes in ordinary air
SOCMA poll: 59% of specialty chemical firms skip stockpiling despite tariff threat, leaving R&D supply questions
rd newsletter
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, trends, and strategies in Research & Development.
RD 25 Power Index

R&D World Digital Issues

Fall 2024 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R&D magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE