Materials for data storage

Abstract

The present invention concerns a data storage material that comprises an assembly of oligo atomic metal clusters confined in molecular sieve for converting invisible radiation emitted by a radiation source at or above room temperature to visible light. By irradiation of specific patterns within this material with UV or visible light, the emission from these patterns is irreversibly enhanced.

1 . A method of storing data in oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in molecular sieves comprising the step of data-wise exposing of said oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in molecular sieves to UV or visible light excitation, thereby providing stored data capable of being read as visible light emission upon exposure to UV-light or an electrical field at or above room temperature. 
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said data-wise exposure of said oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in molecular sieves is sufficiently intense or long to realize an enhanced excitation effect upon a next read at lower irradiation or illumination by UV or visible light radiation. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said data-wise exposure of said oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in molecular sieves is sufficiently intense or long read illumination by radiation from a laser beam, a medium wavelength UV (UVC) radiation source, a Far UV (FUV), a vacuum UV (VUV) ray radiation source, an Extreme UV (EUV) or a deep UV (XUV) ray radiation source to provide an enhanced excitation effect upon a following illumination by an UV or visible light. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said data-wise exposure to UV or visible light excitation is performed with a laser or a light-emitting diode. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said data-wise exposure to UV or visible light excitation is 2-photon photoactivation. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the molecular sieve is selected from among molecular sieves MCM-41, MCM-48, HSM, SBA-15, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the molecular sieve is a microporous material selected from the group consisting of zeolites, porous oxides, silicoalumino-phosphates and aluminosilicates. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the molecular sieve is a zeolite selected the group consisting of zeolite 3A, Zeolite 13X, Zeolite 4A and Zeolite 5A, and ZKF or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the molecular sieves are selected from the group consisting of Mordenite, ZSM-5, MCM-22, Ferrierite, Faujasites X and Y. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters are confined in a single molecular sieve crystal. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said molecular sieve crystal is a microporous crystal. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said molecular sieve crystal is a zeolite crystal. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in a molecular sieve are embedded in a rigid or flexible material. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of attaching said data-wise exposed oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in a molecular sieve to a support as an identifying tag. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of adding said data-wise exposed oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in a molecular sieve to a liquid medium as an identifying tag. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of adding said data-wise exposed oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in a molecular sieve to a plurality of particles as an identifying tag. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters confined in a single molecular sieve crystal are attached to a molecule. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters are confined in a molecular sieve whose pores are coated or are closed by stopper molecules. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are covered by a film. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of embedding said data-wise exposed oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve in a rigid or flexible material. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve form a mono-particulate layer of molecular sieve particles in said rigid or flexible material. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are structured in multi particulate layers of molecular sieve particles in said rigid or flexible material. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are spread as a plurality of molecular sieve particles over a matrix. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are three dimensionally spread over said matrix. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are incorporated as at least one particle in a fiber. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 23  or  25 , wherein the matrix or the fiber is coated by a protective film. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 23  or  25 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are incorporated in a polymer, copolymer or graft copolymer binder. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are silver and/or gold clusters. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said oligo-atomic metal clusters in a molecular sieve are clusters of 1-100 atoms. 
   
   
       30 . A paint, gelling liquid or elastomer comprising molecular sieves with oligo atomic silver clusters confined therein for forming optical data storage membranes or optical data storage films or for coating surfaces with a data-storage capable layer.