K Show Report: Bayer developing next-generation data storage technology

Bayer MaterialScience is developing a technology that promises to vastly increase the amount of data storage capacity in computers and other electronic devices. The new technology is based on holographic encoding and retrieval from a new type of polycarbonate molecule. The molecule is made with side chains oriented in the up and down position, which in turn correspond to bits of data, according to Dr. Constantin Schwecke, manager, new business, Creative Center, Bayer MaterialScience. The data can be scanned in much the same way as a barcode, although at much smaller scale. Schwecke said the physical form of a data-storage device made from the polymer could be a card or a CD with the potential of storing terabytes of data, much greater than present-day storage discs capable of holding mega- or gigabytes of data.
Schwecke said the technology is some year away from full commercialization, but not many.
We are working with certain customers, and we have a road map to get this into the market, he said.