Storing bits of memory in nanotube switches.
The world of computer memory has been approaching an interesting crossroads. Most people are aware that we are rapidly approaching fundamental limits with both magnetic storage mediums like the hard drive, and in the fabrication of transistors through photolithography, which yields RAM and flash memory. Several areas of research, including fields like phase change momory, may provide the opportunity to move away from both magnetic domains and transistors. To explore a different route to future memory systems, researchers went high-tech and put multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to use—only to discover that they work through a surprisingly retro mechanism.
The researchers fabricated a device that was rather simple compared to the usual carbon nanotube fare that we cover in Nobei intent a single MWCNT was spread across a silicon substrate between two platinum electrodes. Although producing these devices is delicate work, it is a far cry from depositing the multiple layers of exotic materials that make up today's field-effect transistors. When a voltage was swept from negative to positive across the nanocable device, a clear transition between conductive and nonconductive states was observed. This transition proved to be nonvolatile; that is, they didn't have to apply a constant voltage in order to maintain the conductive or non-conductive state.
Obviously, this binary state behavior could act as the foundation for computer memory, so the researchers went to work exploring the properties of the device. Read/write operations were stable over thousands of cycles, and the state of the nanocable could read without changing it, meaning the storage of a bit was stable.
Moving into other performance metrics, they found that the MWCNT device was stable at ionizing radiations that cause normal electrical devices to fail, pointing to potential applications in extreme environments, like space. They remained stable over the course of several weeks in both vacuum and atmospheric conditions, and operated at temperatures that, if present in your laptop, would sear your favorite OEM's logo into your flesh.
Read more at the source.
Later :shock: Ted
The world of computer memory has been approaching an interesting crossroads. Most people are aware that we are rapidly approaching fundamental limits with both magnetic storage mediums like the hard drive, and in the fabrication of transistors through photolithography, which yields RAM and flash memory. Several areas of research, including fields like phase change momory, may provide the opportunity to move away from both magnetic domains and transistors. To explore a different route to future memory systems, researchers went high-tech and put multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to use—only to discover that they work through a surprisingly retro mechanism.
The researchers fabricated a device that was rather simple compared to the usual carbon nanotube fare that we cover in Nobei intent a single MWCNT was spread across a silicon substrate between two platinum electrodes. Although producing these devices is delicate work, it is a far cry from depositing the multiple layers of exotic materials that make up today's field-effect transistors. When a voltage was swept from negative to positive across the nanocable device, a clear transition between conductive and nonconductive states was observed. This transition proved to be nonvolatile; that is, they didn't have to apply a constant voltage in order to maintain the conductive or non-conductive state.
Obviously, this binary state behavior could act as the foundation for computer memory, so the researchers went to work exploring the properties of the device. Read/write operations were stable over thousands of cycles, and the state of the nanocable could read without changing it, meaning the storage of a bit was stable.
Moving into other performance metrics, they found that the MWCNT device was stable at ionizing radiations that cause normal electrical devices to fail, pointing to potential applications in extreme environments, like space. They remained stable over the course of several weeks in both vacuum and atmospheric conditions, and operated at temperatures that, if present in your laptop, would sear your favorite OEM's logo into your flesh.
Read more at the source.
Later :shock: Ted
My Computer
- Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
- * BFK Customs *
- OS
- W 7 64-bit Ultimate
- CPU
- Intel Q9550 Yorkfield
- Motherboard
- ASUS P5Q Pro
- Memory
- 8GB Dominator 8500C5D
- Graphics Card(s)
- ATI : XFX 5870
- Sound Card
- Realtek HD Audio 7-1
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 1x 47" LCD HDMI & 3x 26" LCD HDMI
- Screen Resolution
- 1920x1080P & 1920x1200
- Hard Drives
- 1x 80GB Intel X25-M G2 SSD : 1x 500GB & 1x 640GB WD Caviar Black(s)
- PSU
- Corsair 620HX
- Case
- Cooler Master RC-690
- Cooling
- Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans
- Keyboard
- Microsoft 500
- Mouse
- Razer Diamondback 3G
- Internet Speed
- 14 Mb/s
- Other Info
- 1x Koutech 3Gb/s SATA HDD Hot Swap Rack
