Research scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory have developed a technique of magnetising graphene that it claims promises a ‘million-fold’ increase in the current storage capability of hard drives.
Graphene can exhibit magnetic properties either through manufacturing defects or the binding of chemical groups to the so-called ‘wonder’ material, but the problem of creating large-area magnetic graphene has proved elusive. The NRL claims to have solved the problem with ‘simple and robust’ means by placing graphene on a silicon wafer and then submerging it for a minute in cryogenic ammonia and lithium. The process causes the surface to become reliably electromagnetic via the regulated addition of hydrogen atoms.
A 'million-fold' is one helluva lot improvement! To read more, click here.