Matthias Wuttig & Noboru
Yamada talk with ScienceWatch.com and answer a few
questions about this month's Fast Breaking Paper in the
field of Materials Science.
Article Title: Phase-change materials for
rewriteable data storage
Authors: Wuttig,
M;Yamada, N
Journal: NAT MATER
Volume: 6
Issue: 11
Page: 824-832
Year: NOV 2007
* Rhein Westfal TH Aachen, Inst Phys, D-52056 Aachen,
Germany.
* Rhein Westfal TH Aachen, Inst Phys, D-52056 Aachen,
Germany.
* Matsushita Elect Ind Co Ltd, AV Core Technol Dev Ctr,
Osaka 5708501, Japan.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
This paper provides an up-to-date summary of the technological
breakthroughs and scientific understanding obtained for an important class
of materials, i.e., phase change materials (PCMs). These compounds are very
attractive for data storage applications. In addition, the paper outlines
research areas where a better understanding of the materials is necessary.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
Coauthor
Noboru Yamada
The paper summarizes the recent understanding, as well as the scientific
and technological challenges, to obtain even better material solutions for
optical and non-volatile electronic memories.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper in
layman's terms?
PCMs combine surprising and, at first sight, contradictory properties.
These materials can be stabilized in two different states (phases), which
have very different properties. The optical and electrical properties of
the amorphous and crystalline state differ significantly, which implies
that the atomic arrangement in both phases is quite different.
At the same time, these materials enable fast transformations between these
two states, which imply that the structures are rather similar. These
apparently contradictory conclusions have puzzled scientists for a long
time. In our manuscript, a perspective is presented which explains both the
fast transformation as well as the property contrast facilitating a unified
view of these materials.
How did you become involved in this research, and were
there any problems along the way?
The unique properties of PCMs attracted our interest because they came
along with technological opportunities and interesting scientific
challenges. To advance the present understanding, we had to develop new
perspectives several times during the course of our research in order to
obtain a better understanding of the materials. It should be added that,
since the early 1970s, it has been an ultimate dream for the researchers in
this field to realize a rewritable video disc using this attractive
phenomenon.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
We intend to tailor materials to help meet the diverse needs required by
different emerging memory applications.
Do you foresee any social or political implications for
your research?
This research could help pave the way for a new generation of storage
devices. These materials could combine the benefits of the speed of fast
volatile memories and the longevity of non-volatile memories, i.e., they
could serve as materials for a universal memory.
Prof. Dr. Matthias Wuttig
Chair for Physics of Novel Materials
I. Institute of Physics (IA)
RWTH Aachen University
Aachen, Germany
Dr. Noboru Yamada
General Manager of Storage Media Group
AV Core Technology Development Centre
Panasonic Corporation
Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan
Keywords: phase change materials, data storage applications,
material solutions for optical non-volatile electronic memories, new
generation of storage devices, speed of fast volatile memories,
longevity of non-volatile memories.