Rewritable Data Research Articles

Image Encoding Using Multi-Level DNA Barcodes with Nanopore Readout.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanostructure-based data encoding is an emerging information storage mode, offering rewritable, editable, and secure data storage. Herein, a DNA nanostructure-based storage method established on a solid-state nanopore sensing platform to save and encrypt a 2D grayscale image is proposed. DNA multi-way junctions of different sizes are attached to a double strand of DNA carriers, resulting in distinct levels of current blockades when passing through a glass nanopore with diameters around 14nm. The resulting quaternary encoding doubles the capacity relative to a classical binary system. Through toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions, the DNA nanostructures can be precisely added to and removed from the DNA carrier. By encoding the image into 16 DNA carriers using the quaternary barcodes and reading them in one simultaneous measurement, the image is successfully saved, encrypted, and recovered. Avoiding any proteins or enzymatic reactions, the authors thus realize a pure DNA storage system on a nanopore platform with increased capacity and programmability.

The inhibition of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals glass from self-crystallization with the assistance of ZnO modulation for rewritable data storage

In the era of big data, the large amount of data generated every second requires modern and advanced data storage technologies. Femtosecond (fs) laser induced crystallization allow for the realization of fixed-point crystallization inside the CsPbBr3 nanocrystals glasses (CPB), which can be applied in data storage. However, CPB is prone to self-crystallization prior to further heat treatment, interfering with fs-induced crystallization inside the glass and seriously hindering its application in data storage. Herein, we first propose the inhibition of CPB from self-crystallization by modulating the content of ZnO (4–20 mol%) using a melt-quenching method. ZnO was employed as a network modifier and was closely related to the glass network structure. When the content of ZnO was 4%, the CPB did not self-crystallize and was colorless. It was applied in the rewritable data storage by combining the 800 nm fs laser-induced crystallization, annealing (460 ℃/0.5 h) and fs laser erasing (20 mW). This work demonstrates a simple and efficient way to control the self-crystallization of CPBs, enhancing their potential practical application in high-capacity optical data storage with ultra-long working lifetimes.

Nanopore-Based DNA Hard Drives for Rewritable and Secure Data Storage.

Nanopores are powerful single-molecule tools for label-free sensing of nanoscale molecules including DNA that can be used for building designed nanostructures and performing computations. Here, DNA hard drives (DNA-HDs) are introduced based on DNA nanotechnology and nanopore sensing as a rewritable molecular memory system, allowing for storing, operating, and reading data in the changeable three-dimensional structure of DNA. Writing and erasing data are significantly improved compared to previous molecular storage systems by employing controllable attachment and removal of molecules on a long double-stranded DNA. Data reading is achieved by detecting the single molecules at the millisecond time scale using nanopores. The DNA-HD also ensures secure data storage where the data can only be read after providing the correct physical molecular keys. Our approach allows for easy-writing and easy-reading, rewritable, and secure data storage toward a promising miniature scale integration for molecular data storage and computation.

H-aggregate triggered mechanochromic luminescence property of 7-(diethylamino)-coumarin-3-carbaldehyde oxime derivative

For the organic luminogens, the packing structure and fluorescent emission of H-aggregate could be affected by mechanical stimuli. According to the finding, here a new coumarin oxime derivative 4-chloro-7-(diethylamino)-coumarin-3-carbaldehyde oxime A1 showing reversible mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) property was developed. Optical properties study in the solution and DFT calculation revealed that A1 had ICT nature. The emission wavelength in solid state of A1 changed reversibly from 515 nm to 540 nm upon mechanical stimuli and solvent treatment. To demonstrate the relationship between MCL property and molecular structure, another three relative coumarin oxime compounds were synthesized. The results showed that the formation of H-aggregate in solid state observed by X-ray diffraction analysis was considered to be responsible for MCL property of A1, and the intermolecular H-bonding caused by oxime hydroxyl group played a key role in the formation of H-aggregate. Furthermore, the potential application in rewritable data storage based on the MCL behavior of A1 was studied.

Sonochemical Synthesis of Carbon Dots/Lanthanoid MOFs Hybrids for White Light-Emitting Diodes with High Color Rendering.

Although lanthanoid metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) have been widely developed for white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs), the color rendering index (CRI) values are still lower than 80. To overcome this limitation, a series of CDs/Ln-MOFs hybrids, namely, CDs-2@Ln-MOF, CDs-3@Ln-MOF, and CDs-4@Ln-MOF containing blue-emitting CDs and yellow-emitting bimetallic [(Eu1.22Tb0.78(1,4-phda)3(H2O)](H2O)2 were prepared via sonication at room temperature to restrict the self-quenching of CDs in composite materials. The as-synthesized composite materials were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence. The luminescent color of the materials can be adjusted by varying the amount of CDs and excitation wavelengths. The resulting CDs-3@Ln-MOF achieved excellent CRI up to 93 with the ideal Commission International ed'Eclairage coordinate (0.334, 0.334) and appropriate correlated color temperature (CCT) (5443 K). In addition, the tunable multicolored luminescence based on single and bimetallic EuxTb2-x(1,4-phda)3(H2O)](H2O)2, x = 0, 0.73, 1.22, 1.57, 1.94, and 2, were applied as the luminescent security inks for anti-counterfeiting application through encoding/decoding and rewritable data.

Synthesis, structure and dual-stimulus-responsive luminescence switching of a new platinum(II) complex based on 3-trimethylsilylethynyl-1,10-phenanthroline

A new diimine-platinum(II) complex, Pt(PhenC≡CSiMe3)(C≡C-C6H4-3-F)2 (1) based on 3-trimethylsilylethynyl-1,10-phenanthroline (PhenC≡CSiMe3), was synthesized and characterized. Two solvated crystals, 1·1/2(ClCH2CH2Cl) and 1·CHCl3 exhibited dual-stimulus-responsive color and luminescence switching behaviors triggered by heating or mechanical grinding. Upon heating, the color and luminescence of both complexes were changed to red with luminescence red-shifting to 656 for 1·1/2(ClCH2CH2Cl) and 691 nm for 1·CHCl3, corresponding to the thermo-triggered luminescence red-shifts of 112–142 nm and 156–189 nm, respectively. The different heated samples confirm that the original stacking structure can accurately affect the luminescence switching properties of luminescent switching materials. Under the mechanical grinding, both complexes were converted to the same red amorphous product with red emission peaked at 702 nm. Interestingly, once exposure to ClCH2CH2Cl or CHCl3 vapor, the heated and ground samples could be thoroughly reverted to crystalline 1·1/2(ClCH2CH2Cl) and 1·CHCl3. Such reversible thermo- and mechanical-grinding-triggered luminescence switching properties of the complexes are attributed to the interconversions of the lowest energy excited states between metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) transitions during the heating/grinding-vapor absorbing processes. Furthermore, 1·CHCl3 was successfully used for rewritable data recording.

An information carrier based on turn-on type mechanochromic luminescent material: Application for rewritable binary data storage

We report a turn-on type mechanochromic luminescent (MCL) material in this work. The molecular design, including the electron donor-acceptor (D-A) pairs and single-bond rotation, endows the material with both intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE) nature. It shows remarkable emission enhancement with large blue-shift upon grinding and is able to convert back to the initial state after thermal treatment, suggesting high sensitivity and fatigue resistance. An information carrier based on mechanochromic material is developed, by which the binary data can be written by mechanical encoding and erased by heating.

Mechanoresponsive Material of AIE-Active 1,4-Dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole Luminophores Bearing Tetraphenylethylene Group with Rewritable Data Storage.

A new tetraphenylethylene (TPE) functionalized 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole derivative (APPTPECN) was synthesized with obvious aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active by simple synthetic method. APPTPECN exhibited reversible mechanofluorochromic (MFC) behavior. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations exhibited that the MFC nature is originated through a conversion from the microcrystalline to amorphous phase under the stimulus of external force. The results obtained would be of major help in understanding the MFC mechanism and designing new MFC materials. Compound APPTPECN has the potential possibility to employ in rewritable data storage and is of assistance in the rational design of smart luminescent materials.

Phase evolution and formation of λ phase in Ti3O5 induced by magnesium doping

λ-Ti3O5 is a promising phase-transition metal oxide for the application in rewritable data storage, heat storage and smart optoelectronic devices due to its bistable metal-semiconductor transition (MST) characteristics between λ and β phase. However, λ-Ti3O5 is a room-temperature metastable phase and it's synthesis has been a great challenge. This paper presented a magnesium (Mg)-doping strategy for phase control of Ti3O5 to obtain the λ-Ti3O5 via carbothermal reduction method. The results revealed that Mg-doping induced a crystal-structure modification in Ti3O5 by tuning the Mg-doping content. Particularly, it suggested that the phase-transition temperature (Tc) of β–λ was reduced efficiently by increasing the Mg additive amount, and the λ phase was stabilized at room temperature eventually. Electrical resistivity measurement demonstrated a remarkable decrease in resistivity of Ti3O5, indicating a β–λ–α phase evolution induced by Mg-doping. In-situ temperature-dependent XRD was also employed to confirm the phase evolution and phase-transition characteristic of Ti3O5. This work offered considerable insights into a controllable crystal-structure modification for Ti3O5 by a doping strategy and the mechanism to the stabilization of metastable λ-Ti3O5.

Orthogonal Multiplexed Luminescence Encoding with Near‐Infrared Rechargeable Upconverting Persistent Luminescence Composites

AbstractThe orthogonal luminescence encoding technique is developed for the first time based on a novel near‐infrared (NIR) rechargeable upconverting persistent luminescence (UCPL) composites. The orthogonal encoding signals with multicolor upconversion emission and long persistent phosphorescence can be activated and work independently in the presence and absence of 980 nm excitation. The orthogonal encoding technique allows for a marked increase in the coding capacity compared with conventional luminescence encoding strategies. This strategy can offer a greatly increased coding capacity with less naked‐eye certifiable colors to decrease the decoding error rate induced by the chromatic aberration of the similar colors, which can be effectively decoded by the portable charge‐coupled device. In addition, the obtained NIR rechargeable UCPL materials show great potential applications for anticounterfeiting, rewriteable data encryption and decryption, zero‐background bioimaging, and noninvasive photo‐biostimulation, etc.

Visible Light-Responsive DASA-Polymer Conjugates.

A modular synthesis of Donor-Acceptor Stenhouse Adduct (DASA) polymer conjugates is described. Pentafluorophenyl-ester chemistry is employed to incorporate aromatic amines into acrylate and methacrylate copolymers, which are subsequently coupled with activated furans to generate polymers bearing a range of DASA units in a modular manner. The effect of polymer glass transition temperature on switching kinetics is studied, showing dramatic rate enhancements in going from a glassy to a rubbery matrix. Moreover, tuning the DASA absorption profile allows for selective switching, as demonstrated by ternary photopatterning, with potential applications in rewriteable data storage.

Error-free reconstruction of magnetic hologram via improvement of recording conditions in collinear optical system.

Magnetic holographic memory is expected as a rewritable high-capacity data storage technology. To improve the reconstructed image, we investigate recording conditions by numerical simulation and experiments. We found experimentally that four diffracted beams from a digital micromirror device interfere with each other at a suitable defocus recording point, and such overlapping is favorable to obtain clear reconstruction images without diffuser. Subsequently, we modify the shape of the reference beam to ensure more effective interference. As a result, we achieve error-free image reconstruction from the magnetic hologram. Our results indicate that magnetic holograms can potentially be utilized as holographic memory.

Rewritable ternary data storage devices based on polymethacrylate containing pendent azobenzene–naphthalene with the combined effects of conformation change and charge traps

We formed an ITO/polymer/Al device showing different memory characteristics with various alkyl lengths in the side-chains of the polymers.

Carbazole-based diphenyl maleimides: Multi-functional smart fluorescent materials for data process and sensing for pressure, explosive and pH

A series of carbazole-based diphenyl maleimide dyes with different N-substituent were synthesized through an Ullmann reaction in high yields. The dyes exhibit an intense emission in the solid state for their twisted conformation fixed by weak intermolecular interactions, resulting in the hindrance of the internal rotations. Their solid-stated emission wavelength and intensity are sensitive to external stimuli (like heat, pressure and vapor), due to a crystal-to-crystal or crystal-to-amorphous phase transition. Based on the multi-stimuli-responsive fluorescence properties of the N-benzyl analogue, two kinds of applications were explored. One is rewritable data recording processes including solvent writing and vapor writing. The other is sensing for low hydrostatic pressure (0–25 MPa). Interestingly, nanoparticles of the dyes formed in aqueous solution could effectively detect explosive and pH changes. A 15 ppm concentration of picric acid quenched the fluorescence of the N-methyl analogue with the detectable limit calculated to be 0.13 ppm. The N-methyl analogue also showed a different emission color and intensity over the pH range 12–14, which originated from the hydrolysis of the dye molecules in the strongly basic solution.

Mechanistic Modeling of a Rewritable Recombinase Addressable Data Module.

Many of the most important applications predicted to arise from Synthetic Biology will require engineered cellular memory with the capability to store data in a rewritable and reversible manner upon induction by transient stimuli. DNA recombination provides an ideal platform for cellular data storage and has allowed the development of a rewritable recombinase addressable data (RAD) module, capable of efficient data storage within a chromosome. Here, we develop the first detailed mechanistic model of DNA recombination, and validate it against a new set of in vitro data on recombination efficiencies across a range of different concentrations of integrase and gp3. Investigation of in vivo recombination dynamics using our model reveals the importance of fully accounting for all mechanistic features of DNA recombination in order to accurately predict the effect of different switching strategies on RAD module performance, and highlights its usefulness as a design tool for building future synthetic circuitry.

A large scale perfect absorber and optical switch based on phase change material (Ge2Sb2Te5) thin film

In the conventional optical coating, the minimum thickness required to achieve anti-reflection should be quarter wavelength (λ/4n, where n is the refractive index). However, it was demonstrated that a lossy thin film with the thickness below quarter wavelength can also sustain the interference effect leading to a high absorption close to unity. In this paper we show that by depositing a phase change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) thin film (amorphous) on a metal reflector, unity absorption is attainable. We attribute the high absorption to the interference effect within the GST thin film even though its thickness is less than a quarter wavelength. The wavelength of the absorption peak can be tuned by adjusting the GST film thickness. In addition, the performance of this perfect absorber is insensitive to the incidence angle variation. Relying on the fact that GST is a phase change material, the absorption band can be tuned by inducing the phase transition of GST. The huge difference of the reflectivity between amorphous and crystalline phase leads to a high optical contrast ratio as high as 400 at the specific wavelength, suggesting the potential in the application of optical switch and rewritable data storage.

Facile fabrication of metal–organic framework HKUST-1-based rewritable data storage devices

Redox-based rewritable data storage devices constructed from easily synthesised metal–organic framework HKUST-1 coated copper electrodes assembled into coin cells.

Amphiphilic BODIPY-Based Photoswitchable Fluorescent Polymeric Nanoparticles for Rewritable Patterning and Dual-Color Cell Imaging

Photoswitchable fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles (PFPNs) with controllable molecular weight, high contrast, biocompatibility, and prominent photostability are highly desirable but still scarce for rewritable printing, super-resolution bioimaging, and rewritable data storage. In this study, novel amphiphilic BODIPY-based PFPNs with considerable merits are first synthesized by a facile one-pot RAFT-mediated miniemulsion polymerization method. The polymerization is performed by adopting polymerizable BODIPY and spiropyran derivatives, together with MMA as monomer, and mediated by utilizing biocompatible PEO macro-RAFT agent as both control agent and reactive stabilizer. The amphiphilic BODIPY-based PFPNs not only exhibit reversibly photoswitchable fluorescence properties under the alternative UV and visible light illumination through induced intraparticle fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) but also display controllable molecular weight with narrow polydispersity index (PDI), high contrast of fl...

New AIE-active dinuclear Ir(III) complexes with reversible piezochromic phosphorescence behaviour.

Two new AIE-active dinuclear Schiff base Ir(III) complexes exhibit highly reversible piezochromic phosphorescence behaviour enabling the construction of a re-writable phosphorescence data recording device.

Organic Nanoparticulate Photochromes

Photochromic organic dyes can be widely used in materials for optically rewritable data storage, photonic switches, memories, sensors, or actuators. In recent years photochromic materials based on nanoparticles became particularly focused, since they can be dispersed in colloidal aqueous suspensions or incorporated in thin films, avoiding problems of light scattering or shallow light penetration in bulk materials. Spiropyrans, spirooxazines and diarylethenes were by far the most researched photochromes in nanoparticulate systems. Great effort was made to investigate photochromic dyes incorporated into organic nanoparticles via self-assembly strategies, covalent linkage or dispersion of the molecular species in polymers (doping). Nanoparticles composed of solely photochromic dyes were prepared by laser ablation and reprecipitation techniques. Photochromic dyes were microencapsulated by self-assembly, soap free-, emulsion/ microemulsion/miniemulsion or free radical- (co)polymerization. Sol-gel processing from silane precursors to poly(organo)siloxane matrix is a common method to synthesize doped or core-shell photochromic organogels. Colored forms of some photochromes display fluorescence; however, a more effective strategy for fluorescence modulation with photochromic molecules is integrating them, covalently or noncovalently, with a separate fluorophore in the same nanoparticles. These photoresponsive nanoparticles may find applications particularly in biological fields such as cell labelling and bioimaging. The purpose of this review is to summarize the preparation methods of organic nanoparticles containing photochromic dyes and to investigate their typical properties derived from their nanoparticulate character.