IRGs

Materials for Information Storage Media

IRG2 seeks new materials and new processes to underpin advances in future high density information storage media. Charge Storage Media: A conducting AFM tip was used to write, read, erase and rewrite charged domains in films of redox gradient dendimers. The size of the charged domains was of the order of tens of nanometers and the charge decayed over periods ranging from hours to days. This was the first example of recording charge in molecules specially designed for charge storage. Magnetic Storage Media: A new particle synthesis gave ferromagnetic FePt nanoparticles that were oriented in a magnetic field to give the first example of magnetic orientation in films containing self-assembled FePt nanoparticles. Dendrimers for Microstructure Control and Pattern Formation: The role of electrostatic forces in submonolayer dendrimer pattern formation on mica has been understood. This line of research will be extended to graphite in order to understand how to control the pattern formation in dendrimer films by controlling substrate, dewetting, and electrostatic interactions.

IRG-2 Faculty
John Barnard (MSE–Pitt)
Silas Blackstock (CH)
J.W. Harrell (PH)
David Nikles (Thrust Leader - CH)
Shane Street (CH)
Greg Szulczewski (CH)
Mark Weaver (MtE)