Chinese researchers have developed an optical drive that can store up to 200 terabytes of data. For this purpose, data is stored three-dimensionally.

Researchers at Shanghai University have built an optical drive that can store up to 200 TB of data. The disc looks like a DVD or Blu-Ray, but has around 4,000 times the data density. The futuristic DVD can store even more data than today’s most powerful hard drives.

To achieve this density, the researchers had to store the data in 3D. They have developed a technique to store the data in hundreds of layers on the hard drive and expect even more to be possible in the future. 3D technology is popular for improving data storage performance. For example, SSDs today are based on 3D NAND, where the drive’s flash cells are stacked. But for this turbo DVD, the scientists are taking the concept to a new level.

Special material

It wasn’t easy: data is stored in dots just 54 nm wide. The data points themselves are therefore much smaller than the wavelength of visible light. The disk itself is made of a special material that scientists call AIE-DDPR. This material reacts differently to different wavelengths. It took ten years to find a suitable material that would allow reading and writing without losing the stored data.

The researchers initially want to commercialize their new product in data centers. The hard drive can represent an interesting alternative to tape. Over time, the thing could become more widely available. Finally, the disc itself is suitable for mass production and compatible with DVD production processes. We find less clarity about the complexity of lasers for the reading and writing process.