Chinese researchers have made a significant breakthrough in optical data storage, achieving a remarkable capacity of 1.6 petabits on a disc comparable to the size of a DVD. This innovative optical disc technology was developed by teams from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, alongside various other Chinese institutions.

The key technology behind this achievement is the aggregation-induced emission dye-doped photoresist (AIE-DDPR) film, which works in conjunction with a dual laser system. AIE-DDPR is a cutting-edge light-sensitive material that plays a crucial role in facilitating high-density data storage, and its manufacturing process aligns well with traditional DVD production methods.

<b><i>AIE-DDPR</i></b> is a unique material that emits light more intensely when its molecules are densely packed. It combines a luminescent dye with a photoresist, which alters its properties under light exposure, providing precise control over the formation of light-emitting areas on a surface.

Unlike the single-layer data storage of conventional optical discs, the 1.6-petabit disc employs a three-dimensional planar recording structure, allowing data to be stored across 100 layers, with each layer spaced just one micrometer apart. This multilayer approach significantly enhances the storage capacity of the disc.

<b><i>A three-dimensional planar recording architecture</i></b> refers to a method of data storage on discs that utilizes multiple layers, enabling much greater information capacity in a compact design by utilizing the disc’s depth rather than just its surface.

This innovative structure allows for surpassing the optical diffraction limit, which typically limits the smallest data points that can be resolved by optical systems.

<b><i>The optical diffraction limit</i></b> defines the smallest point of light that a lens can focus, a physical constraint that restricts the detail that can be captured or recorded by optical systems such as microscopes and cameras.

By precisely timing the firing of two sets of dual lasers for reading and writing, researchers managed to encode and retrieve data from spots as small as 54 nanometers wide—about one-tenth the wavelength of visible light—effectively overcoming the optical diffraction limit. For writing, a green 515-nanometer laser facilitates spot formation, while a red 639-nanometer laser ceases the writing process. This combination elevates the storage density to approximately 4,000 times that of a Blu-ray disc and 24 times that of the most advanced hard disks. It should be noted, however, that while read/write speeds are high, the inherent nature of optical media might result in slower data retrieval compared to SSDs or HDDs.

The potential applications for this groundbreaking technology are extensive, ranging from digital archives to large data centers where the need for high-capacity, long-term storage solutions continues to grow. With the ability to hold 1.6 petabits (or 200 terabytes) of data, this optical storage disc could redefine data storage practices. It offers a space- and energy-efficient, possibly cost-effective alternative to current solutions like hard drives and magnetic tapes. Its longevity and low energy consumption compared to other storage media also make it an appealing option for extensive archival needs, with a lifespan that could reach 50 to 100 years. By consolidating data storage, these discs could significantly minimize the physical footprint, energy usage, and carbon emissions of data centers, stemming from their capability to store vast amounts of data in a smaller space with reduced heat generation.

Implementing these optical discs could enable a data center to contain an exabit of information in a single room, a capacity that currently requires a stadium-sized space. Moreover, these discs could potentially hold the equivalent of 2,000 PlayStation 5 game discs or a similar quantity of 4K Blu-ray discs, providing a new medium for distributing high-definition content within the entertainment sector.

Though primarily envisioned for enterprise applications, there are possibilities for consumer-level uses, such as personal data centers for individuals or families, facilitating the storage of large amounts of information, like media collections or important data backups, on a single home drive.

The 1.6-petabit optical disc presents an impressive combination of high capacity, durability, longevity, and energy efficiency, surpassing current storage solutions like Blu-ray discs and hard drives, and holds potential against emerging technologies such as 5D glass discs. Its applications span from data centers to archival storage, highlighting its versatility and potential to influence the future landscape of data storage.

Despite the revolutionary nature of this advancement in science and technology, several challenges and limitations must be addressed before it sees widespread adoption in everyday applications.

A major challenge lies in enhancing the writing speed and energy efficiency of the technology. While the current method excels in storage capacity, further optimization is necessary to improve speed and reduce energy demands for practical use in data centers and beyond. Additionally, no fast and affordable drive for reading these discs has yet been developed, which presents a significant hurdle, as the inability to quickly and economically access data limits their practical utility.

Ensuring compatibility with existing systems and promoting widespread adoption also pose challenges. Although the disc production process is reported to align well with traditional DVD manufacturing, the specific requirements for reading and writing to these high-capacity discs may necessitate new hardware and software solutions.

While optical discs are generally durable, they remain vulnerable to physical damage such as scratches, which could lead to data loss, particularly given the high data density on these discs. The rapid pace of technological innovation may result in newer, more efficient storage solutions emerging, potentially affecting the long-term viability of optical disc storage technology. Furthermore, ensuring that future technologies can still read these discs is essential for their sustained usefulness.

The technology relies heavily on innovative materials and a dual laser system for data encoding and reading. Scaling up production while maintaining consistent quality of these materials and systems may present challenges. Regarding cost-effectiveness, the transition to this new storage medium involves not only the cost of the discs and readers but also the expenses related to integrating new units into existing systems and workflows.

Despite these obstacles, the potential advantages of 1.6-petabit optical disc storage technology are undeniably groundbreaking. Surmounting these challenges could lead to a transformative shift in the way data is stored and accessed in the future.

1. Scientists create 1.6-petabit optical storage disc — IT Brew: https://www.itbrew.com/stories/2024/03/01/scientists-create-1-6-petabit-optical-storage-disc
2. Chinese Researchers Achieve Breakthrough in Petabit-level Storage: https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/mutimedia_news/202402/t20240226_657641.shtml
3. Revolutionary DVD-Sized Disc Stores 1.6 Petabits: A Game-Changer For Data Centers: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/revolutionary-dvd-sized-disc-stores-1-6-petabits-a-game-changer-for-data-centers/
4. DVD’s New Cousin Can Store More Than a Petabit — IEEE Spectrum: https://spectrum.ieee.org/data-storage-petabit-optical-disc

• 3D Petabit optical disk can store 10,000 Blu-ray disks worth of data: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/optical-storage-device-petabit/
• DVD-like optical disc could store 1.6 petabits (or 200 terabytes) on 100 layers: https://www.techspot.com/news/101974-dvd-like-optical-disc-could-store-16-petabits.html
• Revolutionary DVD-Sized Disc Stores 1.6 Petabits: A Game-Changer for Data Centers: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/revolutionary-dvd-sized-disc-stores-1-6-petabits-a-game-changer-for-data-centers/
• Researchers have developed a Very Big Disc™ that can store up to 200 terabytes of data and may represent a return to optical media for long-term storage: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/researchers-developed-very-big-disc-113052280.html
• DVD-like optical disc could store 1.6 petabits (or 200 terabytes) on 100 layers: https://www.reddit.com/r/tech/comments/1awt7yh/dvdlike_optical_disc_could_store_16_petabits_or/
• A technology that can store hundreds of TB of data on DVD/Blu-ray size optical discs has been born, and the blank disc production process is compatible with DVDs: https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20240226-3d-nanoscale-optical-disk-memory-with-petabit-capacity/
• DVD-like optical disc could store 1.6 petabits (or 200 terabytes) on 100 layers: https://sh.itjust.works/post/15095054