Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for storage? Yes! Nantero is announcing NRAM, a CNT-based memory faster and more durable than flash, as fast and lower power than DRAM, and fabricated on standard DRAM lines.
By Robin Harris for Storage Bits | June 2, 2015 -- 11:13 GMT (04:13 PDT) | Topic: Storage
After 14 years in stealth -- some kind of record -- Nantero's NRAM technology is having a coming out party today. NRSM could drive flash from the datacenter.
Who is Nantero?
Founded 2001, in production since 2004, with one of the largest patent portfolios in semiconductors, and installed in 7 major fabs, Nantero aims to be the ARM of non-volatile memory technology. They won't build chips, just license their technology to chip vendors, as the UK's ARM Holdings licenses its ARM system designs to Apple, Samsung and everyone else.
Most of their production to date has gone into military or specialized industrial applications. Need storage that works at the deep end of an oil well? NRAM.
What do they have?
Nantero says their technology has several key advantages.
Fast as DRAM - with much lower power consumption
Unlimited endurance
Non-volatility - >1000 years at 85C
Picosecond switching - as fast as any DRAM
Smaller feature sizes than flash - tested down to 5nm
