Molecular memory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Molecular memory is a type of experimental data storage technology which hopes to supplant DRAM memory as the lowest cost technology for high-speed computer memory.
Molecular memories are based on special compounds such as porphyrin-based polymers which are capable of storing electric charge. Once a certain voltage threshold is achieved the material oxidizes, releasing an electric charge. The process is reversible, in effect creating an electric capacitor. The properties of the material allow for a much greater capacitance per unit area than with conventional DRAM memory, thus potentially leading to smaller and cheaper integrated circuits.
At present, molecular memories are still found only in laboratories.
Several universities and a number of companies (Hewlett Packard, ZettaCore) have announced work on molecular memories. NASA is also supporting research on non-volatile molecular memories [1]
