| Nano memory challenge flash |
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 Fast, compact and super efficient U.S. scientists are challenging today's flash with a new nano-memory. A research team at the University of Illinois has developed a new type of memory that combines carbon nanotubes and a phase shifting material. Like flash memory is nonvolatile, meaning it retains data when power is lost. But it is extremely energy efficient, fast and store more data in less space. The use of phase shifting material in memory is not news; technology has long been identified as a faster and more economical alternative to flash memory. Several semiconductor manufacturers develop this so-called PCM memory where a stream may be an alloy to switch between two phases with different resistance: an amorphous phase with high resistance and a crystalline low resistance. But by shrinking the dimensions significantly Illinois researchers have succeeded in reducing energy consumption to one-hundredth. Their memory is built up of carbon nanotubes with a diameter of few nanometers. Each tube is interrupted and the gap is placed a minimum distance of the phase shifting material. Since the inclusion of a current of some microamperes for the material to change phase. So far, the research team constructed and tested a few hundred pieces. Now they want to scale up the technology and reduce energy consumption even more. Eventually, they hope that the technique will prove useful for all sorts of products. From mobile phones and laptops to the satellites and telecommunications systems. |
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