THE semiconductorssemiconductors in siliconsilicon cannot operate above 150 degrees Celsiusdegrees Celsiusas current levels become uncontrollable. How then can we integrate computers, even basic ones, into fusion reactors, jet engines, geothermal wells or even on other planets much hotter than ours?
In an article published in the journal Deviceresearchers at the University of Michigan have succeeded in creating a computer memory that withstands temperatures exceeding 600 degrees Celsius. Rather than relying on movingelectronselectronsthey use ionsions of oxygen in an electrochemical process similar to a battery, except in this case it stores information rather thanenergyenergy.
A memory that could work on Venus
Oxygen ions are guided by three electrodeselectrodes in platinumplatinumand move between two layers, one is made of tantalumtantalumthe other in tantalum oxide, separated by an electrolyte solidsolid which blocks the passage of any other load. The movement of ions creates small regions of tantalum in the tantalum oxide layer, and tantalum oxide in the tantalum layer.
Depending on the quantity of oxygen in tantalum oxide, it is rather insulating or conductive, thus making it possible to create two states for the 0 and 1 of binary storage. And it’s stable until the voltage is reversed. With finer control, this technique could reduce energy consumption with over 100 levels of résistancerésistance different. Currently, information can be stored for more than 24 hours at 600 degrees Celsius, which would allow it to work on Venus!
The prototype can only store one bit at a time, but the researchers say that in theory the technology could hold several gigabytes of data. One of the shortcomings of this technology is that it does not work below 250 degrees Celsius, requiring it to be heated in a room at room temperature. However, compared to other high temperature technologies, this one consumes less energy. In particular, it could ultimately make it possible to operate artificial intelligence in extreme conditions.
