Researchers from Victoria University, in New Zealand, are studying the application of a class of materials called rare earth nitrides (RENs) to create a new type of non-volatile RAM memory.
Dr Ben Ruck, Professor Joe Trodahl and Dr Franck Natali from the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, are studying potential commercial applications of RENs, thin films grown under ultra-high vacuum which are both magnetic and semiconducting.
Two concepts already patented include developing the first magnetic memory storage devices based on RENs, called "magnetic tunnel junctions".
The issue with current forms of RAM is that it does not retain information when the host computer is turned off, says Ruck.
Read more at: Researchers target new form of RAM from rare materials | ZDNet