Researchers use nanotech to create 50TB tapes

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Tape storage is getting a boost as nanotechnology sends its capacity through the roof.

Japanese firm Hitachi Maxwell has teamed up with the Institute of Technology in Tokyo to create new tape storage technology which would allow products to reach over 50TB in capacity.

It has used what it calls the “Facing Targets Sputtering Method” on ultra thin nano-structured magnetic film – with magnetic particles smaller than 10 nanometres – allowing it to fit more information into a much smaller area and in turn raising the number of bits that can be stored.

“Today, the usage of the data storage tape has expanded for the development of the information technology society, the electric archive in the public libraries and the public records offices, and the long-term storage of the business writing," the partners claimed in a joint statement.

“This latest technology is a future technology after coated tape generations.”

They also claimed that tape was still valid and relevant as a technology thanks to its “green storage” contribution, with much lower power consumption than its more modern competitors.

The process won the company and university a world record of creating an areal density of 45GB per inch.

In time, the two organisations claim it will allow for devices to be brought to market with 33 times greater capacity than the latest LTO Ultrium 5 tape cartridge – coming in at around 1.6TB.

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