Computer technology evolves at a fast pace. New hardware that comes out generally replaces ones that were out just a year before. The next generation of computer hardware could prove to be exciting, such as next-generation hard drives that could be made of perovskite.
Hard drives today could handle and store more data. That comes at a cost, though, as more data and storage handling can mean that hard drives also overheat. Many hard drives fail because of constant overheating. There is a need for hard drives that have more density in order to store more data, yet would be efficient as well without much overheating.
At EPFL scientists there have developed a new perovskite material that could have its magnetic order changed rapidly without overheating it. The project is led by Balint Nafradi and the ferromagnetic photovoltaic material has been developed in the lab of Laszio Forro. The ferromagnetic photovoltaic material is a modified form of perovskite.
Nafradi stated that the material is the first ever magnetic photoconductor. It has the advantages of ferromagnets as well as of photoconductors, according to EPFL's site. Essentially then it has a magnetic moment that aligns in perfect order and has a light generated high-density free conduction electrons.
With the combination of the two, magnetization in a way is melted by photo-electrons. An LED light then can be used to melt magnetic order so as to generate a high density of travelling electrons, as Science Daily reports. The new material is still experimental, though there is a high probability that it can be used for next-generation hard drives.
Nafradi said that the new material offers much long-term stability and high data density. It also offers a non-volatile operation and re-writability. These are the qualities needed for hard drives that would be efficient and reliable in handling a high volume of data.
The next-generation hard drives could be made of perovskite. These hard drives would then be able to handle and store large amounts of data without much overheating. Earlier also, four Galileo satellites have been launched on Ariane 5.
