Carbon nanotube tips for thermomechanical data storage

We report the demonstration of thermomechanical data storage in a poly(methylmethacrylate) film using a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) tip. Indentation densities of >250 Gbits/in2 are achieved. The power efficiency of indent writing with MWCNT tips is found to be higher than that of conventional silicon tips owing to better heat transfer at the tip–polymer interface.