Nature of bonding determines thermal conductivity
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 - 10:30
in Physics & Chemistry
Optical data carriers such as DVDs, Blu-rays and CD-RWs store data in layers of so-called "phase change materials". In the future, these materials will enable the development of fast, non-volatile and energy-saving main memories. A prerequisite for this is a low thermal conductivity. Phase change materials display a surprisingly low thermal conductivity even in the crystalline state. This is described by an international research team including scientists from Julich and Aachen in the latest edition of the respected journal Advanced Functional Materials. Their findings will facilitate a targeted search for materials with the desired properties.