Researchers develop nanoparticle films for high-density data storage

Nanowerk  April 3, 2018
Films made of the semiconductor titania and silver nanoparticles are promising for holographic data storage. But exposure to UV light has been shown to erase the data, making the films unstable for long-term information storage. Researchers in China used electron-accepting molecules that measured 1 to 2 nanometers to disrupt the electron flow from the semiconductor to the metal nanoparticles. They fabricated semiconductor films with a honeycomb nanopore structure that allowed the nanoparticles, electron-accepting molecules and the semiconductor to all interface with each other. In tests holograms could be written into them efficiently and with high stability even in the presence of UV light. Using the electron-acceptors to change the electron flow formed multiple electron transferring paths, making the material respond faster to the laser light and greatly accelerating the speed of data writing…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE