Liquid crystal for high density data storage
Technology News | July 25, 2023
Researchers in Japan have developed a metal free liquid crystal that can improve data storage in devices.
The researchers from Chiba University have developed a liquid crystal system with long-term information storage ability and high tolerance towards external thermal and electric fields. This can provide a recording density 10,000 times larger than Blu-ray discs.
Current memory storage materials contain toxic and rare metals, which cause significant environmental impact. Metal-free systems for data-storage using liquid crystals struggle with susceptibility to external stimuli.
Axially polar-ferroelectric columnar liquid crystals (AP-FCLCs) has emerged as a candidate for future high-density memory storage materials. This is a liquid crystal with a structure of parallel columns generated by molecular self-assembly, which have polarization along the column axis. The columns switch their polar directions upon the application of an external electric field.
If AP-FCLCs can maintain their polarization even after the electric field is removed, this property, along with their flexibility, metal-free composition, power-saving ability, and low environmental impact, makes AP-FCLCs ideal for ultra-high-density memory devices. Unfortunately, due to the fluid nature of liquid crystals, the polarity induced by an external electric field can be compromised by external stimuli.
The team was led by Professor Keiki Kishikawa of the Graduate School of Engineering and includes Doctoral Course student Hikaru Takahashi of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering and Associate Professor Michinari Kohri of the Graduate School of Engineering.
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