Scanning probe-type data storage beyond hard disk drive and flash memory

High-density storage technology beyond hard disk drives and flash memory is required. Efforts are underway to develop new high-density storage technology based on scanning probe-based data storage. One of the candidates for scanning probe-type storage is thermomechanical data storage (also known as millipede, developed by IBM Zurich), and another is ferroelectric data storage. In this article, probe data-storage technologies are overviewed. Thermomechanical data storage and ferroelectric data storage are described in detail for next-generation high-density data-storage technology based on scanning probe microscopy. Ferroelectric data storage and scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy-based and field-effect transistor-type probe-based probe data storage are also described.