IOM-scientists have succeeded in using electron beam technology and thermal processes to adjust the optical properties of nanometer-sized diamonds so precisely that they can be used for data storage. The method used is essentially based on the interaction between individual foreign atoms and defects in the diamond, the so-called color centers. On the one hand, the method is characterized by a high theoretical storage density, since the data encoding is based on changes in the lifetime of the excited electronic state of the individual atomic color centers, thus enabling multinary data storage. On the other hand, the defect structures generated in the diamond are very stable against many external influences, which makes the storage method particularly attractive for applications in long-term data storage.

The results of the investigations were published in the journal ACSNano. Further information on the article:

C. Laube, R. Temme, A. Prager, J. Griebel, W. Knolle, B. Abel
Fluorescence Lifetime Control of Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Nanodiamonds for Long-Term Information Storage
ACS Nano Article ASAP
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.3c00328