The thinnest light disk: rewritable data storage and encryption on WS₂ monolayers

Abstract

The thinnest light disk is demonstrated at the atomic level by developing an erasable method to directly write encrypted information onto WS₂ monolayers. The write-in is realized by precise control of photoluminescence emission by means of ozone functionalization and scanning focused laser beam. The visual decryption and reading-out of information are enabled by fluorescence contrast. The high encryption level is ensured by the threshold power upon which the data deletion will be triggered. Owing to the high spatial resolution and power sensitivity, the storage capacity within <1 nm thickness can be up to ≈62.5 MB cm⁻², and the writing speed can reach ≈6.25 MB s⁻¹. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the disk formatting is realized by ozone molecule adsorption induced localized unoccupied states, while the read-in relies on the passivation of defects via substitution of the sulfur vacancies with oxygen atoms. The results of this study promote data storage and encryption on the atomic scale.