I-Corps: Translation Potential of Defect-Engineered Optical Memory in Quantum Materials for High-Density and Extreme-Environment Data Storage

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a new type of solid-state memory technology that stores digital information directly within a synthetic sapphire crystal. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other data-intensive technologies is increasing demand for storage systems with greater capacity, lower energy consumption, longer data retention, and improved reliability. Current storage technologies face tradeoffs among storage density, durability, cost, and long-term performance, particularly for applications requiring decades of reliable operation or use in harsh environments. This technology enables information storage directly within a sapphire crystal rather than relying on current transistor-based memory architectures. This may enable more efficient, durable, and scalable data storage for archival storage, scientific instruments, industrial systems, and other applications where current memory technologies face limitations. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of defect-engineered optical memory based on optically addressable defect centers in synthetic sapphire. This technology stores information directly within the crystal by controlling the charge state of atomic-scale defect centers rather than relying on current electronic memory architectures. Information is encoded by controlling these charge states, with different configurations representing binary values 1 and 0. Previous research demonstrated that these charge states can be optically modified, nondestructively read, and repeatedly cycled. The combination of optically addressable defect centers and the intrinsic chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability of synthetic sapphire may support the development of high-density, long-retention data storage and retrieval. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.