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Information storage and retrieval in a single levitating colloidal particle

Nature Nanotechnology volume 10, pages 886–891 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

The binary switch is a basic component of digital information. From phase-change alloys to nanomechanical beams, molecules and atoms, new strategies for controlled bistability hold great interest for emerging technologies. We present a generic methodology for precise and parallel spatiotemporal control of nanometre-scale matter in a fluid, and demonstrate the ability to attain digital functionalities such as switching, gating and data storage in a single colloid, with further implications for signal amplification and logic operations. This fluid-phase bit can be arrayed at high densities, manipulated by either electrical or optical fields, supports low-energy, high-speed operation and marks a first step toward ‘colloidal information’. The principle generalizes to any system where spatial perturbation of a particle elicits a differential response amenable to readout.

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Figure 1: A nanorod in a bistable potential well.
Figure 2: Volatile electrical operation of a fluid-phase bit.
Figure 3: An arbitrary arrangement of switchable and pre-aligned nanorods subject to an alternating square-wave field of magnitude |E| = 4.5 mV μm–1 (Supplementary Movie 7).
Figure 4: Non-volatile electrical operation of a fluid-phase bit.
Figure 5: Optical gating and information storage.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the University of Zurich. Nanofabrication was carried out at the FIRST Center for Micro- and Nanoscience, ETH Zurich.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH 8057, Switzerland

    Christopher J. Myers & Madhavi Krishnan

  2. Department of Physics, Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci 32, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy

    Michele Celebrano

  3. Department of Physics, Winterthurerstrasse 190, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH 8057, Switzerland

    Madhavi Krishnan

Authors
  1. Christopher J. Myers
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  2. Michele Celebrano
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  3. Madhavi Krishnan
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Contributions

C.J.M. and M.C. performed the experiments and analysed the data. M.K. conceived the project, designed the experiments and wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Madhavi Krishnan.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Supplementary information (PDF 788 kb)

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Supplementary Movie 1 (AVI 6959 kb)

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Supplementary Movie 2 (AVI 20588 kb)

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Supplementary Movie 3 (AVI 13215 kb)

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Supplementary Movie 4 (AVI 14905 kb)

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Supplementary Movie 6 (AVI 20444 kb)

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Myers, C., Celebrano, M. & Krishnan, M. Information storage and retrieval in a single levitating colloidal particle. Nature Nanotech 10, 886–891 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2015.173

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