Abstract: A device for mass storage of information, the device comprising: a substrate (30); an electrically-conductive tip (10) for atomic force microscopy located above the surface (31) of said substrate (30) in electrical contact therewith; and a voltage generator (41) for applying a potential difference between said tip (10) and said substrate (30); the device being characterized in that: said substrate (30) has a surface (31) of a material presenting electrical conductivity that is both electronic and ionic in nature; and in that said generator (41) is adapted to apply a potential difference that is sufficient to induce a redox reaction of said material that modifies the surface electrical conductivity of the substrate (30). The use of such a device (1) for mass storage of information.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied; and a data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising: a substrate; and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location, characterized in that the polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages.