Encoding Data in Synthetic Molecules: A Novel Approach to Molecular Data Storage

Researchers have developed a new method for encoding information in synthetic molecules. This innovative approach was used to encode and decode an 11-character password to unlock a computer. The study, published in the journal *Chem*, presents an alternative to traditional data storage methods. The traditional storage devices have drawbacks, such as high maintenance costs and energy consumption. Molecules offer a potential solution for long-term data archiving. The team designed molecules containing electrochemical information, enabling decoding via electrical signals. The team built an alphabet of characters using four different monomers. They synthesized a polymer representing an 11-character password ('Dh&@dR%P0W¢'). They decoded it using a method based on the molecules' electrochemical properties. The decoding method involves breaking down chain-like polymers. The step-by-step degradation results in electrical signals. These signals are used to decipher the sequential identity of the monomers within the polymer. "The voltage gives you one piece of information -- the identity of the monomer currently being degraded," says Pasupathy. "Once we pinpoint which monomers are where, we can piece that together to get the identities of the characters in our encoded alphabet." Each molecular message can only be read once, as decoding degrades the polymers. The decoding process takes time, around 2.5 hours for the 11-character password. The team is working on methods to speed up the process. "The next step is to interface the polymers with integrated circuits," says Anslyn. "Where the computer chips become the readout system for the stored information."