Chinese Researchers Develop FlexRAM Liquid Metal RAM Using Biomimicry

[AleksandarK]

Researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing have developed FlexRAM, the first fully flexible resistive RAM memory built using liquid metal. The innovative approach suspends droplets of gallium-based liquid metal in a soft biopolymer material. Applying voltage pulses oxidizes or reduces the metal, mimicking neuron polarization. This allows the reversible switching between high and low resistance states corresponding to bit 1s and 0s for data storage. Even when powered off, data persists in the inert liquid for 43,200 seconds (or 12 hours). The current FlexRAM prototype consists of 8 independent 1-bit memory units, storing a total of 1 byte. It has demonstrated over 3,500 write cycles, though further endurance improvements are needed for practical use. Commercial RAM is rated for millions of read/write cycles. The millimeter-scale metal droplets could eventually reach nanometer sizes, dramatically increasing memory density.

FlexRAM represents a breakthrough in circuits and electronics that can freely bend and flex. The researchers envision applications from soft robotics, medical implants, and flexible wearable devices. Compatibility with stretchable substrates unlocks enormous potential for emerging technologies. While still in the early conceptual stages, FlexRAM proves that computing and memory innovations that were once thought impossible or fanciful can become real through relentless scientific creativity. It joins a wave of pioneering flexible electronics research attaining more flexibility than rigid silicon allows. There are still challenges to solve before FlexRAM and liquid electronics can transform computing. But by proving a fluid-state memory device possible, the technology flows toward a radically different future for electronics and computation. Below, you can see the liquid metal droplet that is the FlexRAM breakthrough.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Broken Processor]

AI and liquid metal we're doomed!

 

[Kohl Baas]

AI and liquid metal we're doomed!

Don't fos, it's just Gallium. Not Mimetic polyaloid.

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

AI and liquid metal we're doomed!

It'll be OK. We just need a bunch of liquid nitrogen!

 

[Denver]

"Even when powered off, data persists in the inert liquid for 43,200 seconds (or 12 hours).

What I see there, high-precision autonomous military vehicles, designed to spy on or explode targets, so the durability is more than enough. There will be nothing to recover later. /s

 

[user556]

Anything with a known endurance limit (Eg: Flash, FRAM, RRAM) is a class of ROM, not RAM. The only unlimited endurance techs I know of are SRAM, DRAM and MRAM.

 

[Endymio]

Anything with a known endurance limit (Eg: Flash, FRAM, RRAM) is a class of ROM, not RAM.

So your contention is that a device that allows random access and is *not* read only is actually "read only memory", not "random access memory"? That's like claiming DRAM isn't really "memory" because you have to continually refresh its contents several million times a second.

Even when you throw eeprom/flash into the "ROM" mix, the defining characteristic between it and RAM is volatility, not write cycles endurance.

 

[user556]

Unlike Flash, original EEPROM is fully random access too but it's not a usable random access simply because of its endurance limit. Having an endurance limit is the primary defining factor for a ROM tech.

If volatility was considered a factor then all the newer labelled *RAMs would automatically be classed as ROMs by everyone.

 

[Endymio]

Unlike Flash, original EEPROM is fully random access too but it's not a usable random access simply because of its endurance limit. Having an endurance limit is the primary defining factor for a ROM tech.

Oops! The early EEPROMs were not considered as RAM because "writing" those ICs required one to (1) halt all reads, then (2) erase the entire chip's contents in a process that took several orders of magnitude longer than a read cycle, then (3) reactivate the read circuitry. Even still, they might not have been known by that name, were it not for the UV-erasable EPROMs which came before them. Bit-addressable EEPROMs didn't arrive for many years later.

Note that flash memory is no longer referred to as "ROM", despite the fact that it has a limited write cycle capacity.

If volatility was considered a factor then all the newer labelled *RAMs would automatically be classed as ROMs by everyone.

Eh? You misread. RAM is volatile; flash is not. If (far fast) SDRAM wasn't volatile, we'd use it for SSDs.

 

[user556]

Bit-addressable EEPROMs didn't arrive for many years later.

It wasn't many years on the scale.

Note that flash memory is no longer referred to as "ROM", despite the fact that it has a limited write cycle capacity.

Intel always avoided the relationship.

Eh? You misread. RAM is volatile; flash is not. If (far fast) SDRAM wasn't volatile, we'd use it for SSDs.

The newer labelled *RAMs I said. RRAM, FRAM, MRAM, and many others. They're all non-volatile, competing with Flash for embedded use, and all clearly trying to sell themselves as RAMs at the same time. I think even this FlexRAM is wanting to eventually claim non-volatility too. After all, it ain't gonna to be going up against DRAM or SRAM without unlimited endurance.

Another way to look at this is if a new product can't compete for SRAM or DRAM positioning then it isn't a RAM.

Just to make my point. Flash goes nowhere without SRAM fronting it. Computing in all applications goes nowhere without SRAM. From the first digital watch to the latest super computer.