Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors
Heifer International



Home > Press > The switch that could double USB memory

Using two forms of strontium cobalt oxide with different oxygen content, the device can be switched from an insulating/non-magnet state to a metallic/magnet state simultaneously by electrochemical oxidation/reduction reaction at room temperature in air.
CREDIT: Hiromichi OHTA, Hokkaido University
Using two forms of strontium cobalt oxide with different oxygen content, the device can be switched from an insulating/non-magnet state to a metallic/magnet state simultaneously by electrochemical oxidation/reduction reaction at room temperature in air.

CREDIT: Hiromichi OHTA, Hokkaido University

Abstract:
Scientists at Hokkaido University have developed a device that employs both magnetic and electronic signals, which could provide twice the storage capacity of conventional memory devices, such as USB flash drives.

The switch that could double USB memory

Hokkaido, Japan | Posted on July 3rd, 2016

Conventional USB flash drives are electronic data storage devices. They store information by using millions of small gates that process information into "words" consisting of various combinations of the numbers 0 and 1.

A team of scientists at Hokkaido University's Research Institute for Electronic Science investigated the possibility of using a magnetic signal along with the electronic signal to allow double the storage capacity in these "multiplex writing/reading" devices. In addition to the binary 0/1 method of storing information, this would add an A/B store for the information as well. To do this would require finding a material that can switch back and forth from a magnet to a non-magnet state.

Using two forms of strontium cobalt oxide with different oxygen content, the device can be switched from an insulating/non-magnet state to a metallic/magnet state simultaneously by electrochemical oxidation/reduction reaction at room temperature in air. The use of magnetic signal along with electronic signal Using two forms of strontium cobalt oxide with different oxygen content, the device can be switched from an insulating/non-magnet state to a metallic/magnet state simultaneously by electrochemical oxidation/reduction reaction at room temperature in air.[copyright: Hiromichi OHTA, Hokkaido University]

The team investigated two forms of strontium cobalt oxide (SrCoOx): one is an insulating non-magnet while the other is a metal magnet. By changing the oxygen content in this compound, the team could cause it to switch between the two forms. However, the two methods currently available to do this have big drawbacks. One method requires using a high temperature heat treatment. This would make it impossible to use in devices that work at room temperature, such as your mobile phone. The other method involves using a dangerous alkaline solution. This would require a device that is sealed so that the solution does not leak. This method is difficult to miniaturize and is thus not suitable for information storage devices.

The team developed a new method to use strontium cobalt oxide safely at room temperature in air. They applied a sodium tantalate thin film, which can be used at room temperature without leaking alkaline solution, over layers of strontium cobalt oxide. When a three-volt current was applied (or about one-seventh of the voltage required in currently available USB flash drives), the insulating form of SrCoO2.5 reversibly switched to its metal magnet form, SrCoO3, in three seconds. By comparison, current devices can store information in 0.01 seconds. Making the device smaller would shorten the time needed for the compound to switch between an insulator and a magnet, the researchers say. This would allow the storage of an even larger number of photos and videos in mobile phones, for example.

####

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Naoki NAMBA (Media Officer)

81-117-068-034

Copyright © Hokkaido University

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related Links

RELATED JOURNAL ARTICLE:

Related News Press

News and information

Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024

How surface roughness influences the adhesion of soft materials: Research team discovers universal mechanism that leads to adhesion hysteresis in soft materials March 8th, 2024

Two-dimensional bimetallic selenium-containing metal-organic frameworks and their calcinated derivatives as electrocatalysts for overall water splitting March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

Magnetism/Magnons

Three-pronged approach discerns qualities of quantum spin liquids November 17th, 2023

Study on Magnetic Force Microscopy wins 2023 Advances in Magnetism Award: Analysis of finite size effects reveals significant consequences for density measurements November 3rd, 2023

Twisted science: NIST researchers find a new quantum ruler to explore exotic matter October 6th, 2023

Researchers discover materials exhibiting huge magnetoresistance June 9th, 2023

Possible Futures

Two-dimensional bimetallic selenium-containing metal-organic frameworks and their calcinated derivatives as electrocatalysts for overall water splitting March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

The Access to Advanced Health Institute receives up to $12.7 million to develop novel nanoalum adjuvant formulation for better protection against tuberculosis and pandemic influenza March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

Memory Technology

Interdisciplinary: Rice team tackles the future of semiconductors Multiferroics could be the key to ultralow-energy computing October 6th, 2023

Researchers discover materials exhibiting huge magnetoresistance June 9th, 2023

Rensselaer researcher uses artificial intelligence to discover new materials for advanced computing Trevor Rhone uses AI to identify two-dimensional van der Waals magnets May 12th, 2023

TUS researchers propose a simple, inexpensive approach to fabricating carbon nanotube wiring on plastic films: The proposed method produces wiring suitable for developing all-carbon devices, including flexible sensors and energy conversion and storage devices March 3rd, 2023

Nanoelectronics

Interdisciplinary: Rice team tackles the future of semiconductors Multiferroics could be the key to ultralow-energy computing October 6th, 2023

Key element for a scalable quantum computer: Physicists from Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University demonstrate electron transport on a quantum chip September 23rd, 2022

Reduced power consumption in semiconductor devices September 23rd, 2022

Atomic level deposition to extend Moore’s law and beyond July 15th, 2022

Discoveries

What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024

Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024

High-tech 'paint' could spare patients repeated surgeries March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

Announcements

What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

The Access to Advanced Health Institute receives up to $12.7 million to develop novel nanoalum adjuvant formulation for better protection against tuberculosis and pandemic influenza March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters

Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024

How surface roughness influences the adhesion of soft materials: Research team discovers universal mechanism that leads to adhesion hysteresis in soft materials March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE




  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More











ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project