Today’s advanced computing and AI systems require more storage than ever. As such, there have been many strides in the data storage sector over the last few years. These advancements include utilizing groundbreaking materials and new methods. Here’s a look at some of the latest data storage methods with the potential to upend the market.
Data Storage Demand on the Rise.
Demand for data storage solutions continues to expand across the industry,, with more than 9,000 data centers worldwide. Notably, the US leads the pack in terms of data centers, with over 5,000 in operation currently. These facilities serve a vital role in enabling businesses, users, and governments to keep track of crucial information.
Cloud Storage Leads the Pack
Analysts predict the cloud storage market will go from $61B in 2020 to $390B by 2028. This growth can be attributed to many factors. However, the increased usage of high-performance AI algorithms is one of the primary reasons why cloud computing services are in such demand. These services require large data models to be saved and accessed during operation. Notably, AI systems require larger models to provide more services. As such, data storage needs are predicted to continue.
Problems with Today’s Data Storage Methods
Today’s storage devices work well for non-AI systems, but they can’t provide the scalability needed to house and operate the most effective algorithms. Solid-state drives are limited by their magnetic grain, whereas flash drives have hit their physical scaling limits. Even digital storage methods like CDs suffer from physical limitations in terms of data storage space.
Mechanical Storage
One form of storage that has seen considerable interest recently is mechanical storage methods. This method utilizes small indents that represent data. This method of storage has been explored by IBM and Intel in the past due to its interesting characteristics and dense storage capabilities.
Problems with Mechanical Storage Methods Used Today
A lot of research was put into developing and testing mechanical storage devices in the past. The devices operated well and provided more density. However, they had many drawbacks, including challenges with synthesis, low erasing temperatures, and a lack of stability. The use of a heated probe further complicated the procedure as the probe required increased energy and reduced safety.
High-Density Polymer Data Storage Study
A recent study published in the journal Advanced Science introduces a novel method to create and use high-density polymer as a storage medium. The polymer is ideal for the task for multiple reasons. For one, it provides the necessary physical versatility and chemical characteristics needed to complete the job.
Source – Advanced Science
For example, specific polymers have low surface roughness and can hold their shape without distortion in the right conditions. This study introduces a new form of polymer that was created specifically for data storage tasks called Flinders Polymer, named after the school where it was developed. Notably, this material was created utilizing inverse vulcanization to combine sulfur and dicyclopentadiene.
These materials are low-cost and renewable. As such, they’re ideal for the constant writing, erasing, and rewriting that the data storage system must complete. Additionally, they provide more storage density due to the method by which the data gets encoded into the polymer.
Nanoscale Indents for Data Storage
Researchers utilized nanoscale indents to store data markings on a microscopic level. An atomic force microscope was used to make these indentations. The indents ranged in depth from
Ternary Numeric Coding System
At the core of the added storage capabilities is the ternary encoding method. This encoding method surpasses binary systems which remain limited to 2 states, 8 cells, and 256 characters. Ternary coding adds another state, enabling it to represent 6561 characters across 8 cells. Notably, the depth of the indent allows additional information to be shared.
Erasing Polymer Data Storage
Another key concern for researchers was ensuring that the polymer could be easily erased and rewritten. The team found that the polymer provided excellent storage capabilities and thermal S─S metathesis. Also, they noted that thermal reorganization of the dynamic polysulfide network occurred when a precise amount of heat was applied.
Testing Polymer Data Storage
The researchers completed several testing phases to find the perfect polymer mixture and processes for the tasks. They tested each polymer makeup to see if it was modifiable on the nanoscale. Additionally, the team monitored how the AFM cantilever operated with the materials.
They found that the cantilever could apply a wide range of forces (0.6–3.8 µN) and reduced energy requirements. Notably, the widest part of the indents only measured 15 ± 1 nm, making them nanoscale.
Testing Erase
The researchers needed to confirm that the new polymer could successfully erase and hold new data multiple times. To test this feature, the researchers created a 4 × 4 array of indentations with depths of 18–27 nm. They then constructed 7 duplicate samples that were drop-cast and cured on a silicon substrate. All indents were erased in under 2 minutes during the first test.
Results
The results of the testing demonstrate the efficiency of the new data storage system. The engineers found that it only took seconds to erase and rewrite data using Filmers polymer and heat bursts. The heat bursts were much lower than previous mechanical storage methods which often required high-powered heating elements.
The engineers took months to study the indents of each storage unit to ensure that they remained accurate. The team utilized AFM imaging to monitor any changes to the indents and the data. They discovered that their method could also be applied to thin polymer sheets as well and can be registered utilizing other methods like a scanning electron microscope.
Benefits to Mechanical Storage Devices
There are several benefits that make mechanical storage devices stand out from the competition. For one, they are operationally simple. In most instances, there is some marking that represents data. Today, mechanical batteries operate on a nanoscale, creating a new level of density.
High Density
The main advantage of this form of battery is higher density. These devices can store more in less space because of the use of the ternary code. Being able to use the depth of the indent as a coding method adds another dimension to the equation. Additionally, these systems can integrate multiple cantilevers and scanners to enable parallel reading and writing.
Inexpensive
This alternative data storage strategy method provides a low-cost alternative to the status quo. The polymer’s main components, sulfur and dicyclopentadiene, are affordable and readily available. The lower costs of this approach mean that these systems can be used across a wide array of industries.
Low Energy
Another major benefit gained from this new mechanical storage method is reduced energy consumption. Unlike its predecessor, this method of storage can be done at room temperature. As such, it’s safer, uses far less energy, and is more sustainable.
Erased and Reuse
Filmers Polymer has proven to be extremely resilient and can be erased and rewritten in seconds. It is lightweight and can hold its structure on a nanoscale, allowing for more data storage in less room.
Clean
Notably, this storage method produces very little byproducts. The materials to create the storage don’t put off any sulfur during the melting and rewriting process. This approach also ensured that the storage provided true sustainability, helping to ensure the next generation of AI systems could offer helpful services without causing irreparable damage to the ecosystem.
Issues to Address
There are some issues that engineers must address to bring their mechanical storage devices to the masses. For one, the system can only operate in environments below the erasing temperature. If the storage comes in contact with temperatures above the predetermined erase point, all data will be lost. This style of loss can occur in nearly any storage device that overheats. However, the low temperature of the polymer data storage device exasperates the issue and is a primary concern for researchers moving forward.
Researchers
Chalker Lab at Flinders University led the study with Abigail Mann listed as the first author. The testing was carried out at the college’s on-site research facilities. Now, the team seeks to expand on their work to bring high-density mechanical batteries to the market. As part of this step, they will continue to research different polymers and examine alternative writing methods including utilizing lasers and nanoimprint lithography.
Companies that can benefit from the Mechanical Data Storage Study
The data storage market is competitive, with several main players dominating the market. These firms provide valuable storage options that help researchers, businesses, and individuals get the most from their computations. Here is one company that is positioned wisely to integrate this technology and boost revenue.
The Data Storage Corporation (DTST -1.28%) entered the market in 2001 with the goal of providing advanced storage options. This Delaware-based tech firm resulted from a merger with Emergent LLC. This merger expanded the company’s offerings and helped it gain a foothold in the broadband service sector.
Today, Data Storage Corporation is a leading provider of data services, including offsite backup and more. The company’s services have helped businesses recover from major losses and even natural disasters. As such, it has maintained a strong positioning in the market and has strategic partnerships with major tech firms like Microsoft.
Data Storage Corporation (DTST -1.28%)
The company’s products include a host of scalable enterprise-grade resource,s including ezHost. The exVault option provides redundancy to companies and advanced encryption, empowering them to expand operations and keep user data safe. There’s also an ezRecovery option that streamlines getting your business up after major disasters or events.
If Data Storage Corp could integrate the latest mechanical battery tech into their offerings, their clients would receive better services, and the firm could reduce costs. The added storage density would enable the company to offer 4x the storage from its current facilities, driving ROIs to new heights.
Additional Batteries Worth Learning About
There’s been no shortage of attempts by researchers to make the perfect storage device. While none have achieved perfection, there has been considerable innovation. Here are a few other cool storage methods that could reshape the market in the future and provide today’s electronics with super memory.
Oxygen-based Memory
This method of storage leverages oxygen molecules as they move between preset memory layers. These layers are made from tantalum oxide, metal tantalum, and 3 platinum electrodes that move the O2 between layers. This method of mechanical storage has a major benefit in that temperatures will not erase it making it ideal for extreme conditions where the heat would normally be problematic.
Crystals
Researchers have recently looked into using crystals as storage devices. Crystals have some characteristics that could improve storage capabilities. For one, they are very rigid and structured at an atomic level. This system uses ultra-fast lasers to precisely inscribe data into nano-structured voids within silica crystal, providing heat-resistant storage.
Diamonds
A team of innovative researchers found that diamonds could provide similar storage capabilities to crystals. Unlike crystals, diamond storage relies on altering the center color of the diamond using an electrical charge. Like crystals, diamond-encoded data is extremely heat and time-resistant.
Mechanical Data Storage – Is It the Future?
There are a lot of reasons why mechanical storage could be the way for the future. For one, the added density enables more storage with less room. As such, electronics can get smaller and more powerful using these items. Also, these devices are sustainable and cost less than alternatives. All of these factors continue to drive interest in new data storage methods and their manufacturers.
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