MEDIUM FOR USE IN DATA STORAGE, THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE AND OTHER APPLICATIONS, WITH FUNCTIONAL LAYER MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS

摘要

A medium for use in data storage, thermal energy storage and other applications, the medium comprising a functional layer made of different materials. One embodiment provides a data storage medium. The data storage medium comprises a substrate and a data storage layer supported by the substrate. The data storage layer comprises a plurality of regions each capable of representing a digital value. The data storage layer is at least partly made of a first material and a second material different from the first material. The data storage layer comprises a pattern of discrete portions made of the second material lying in a plane defined by the data storage layer. The pattern is configured such that each region representing a digital value contains a portion made of the first material and at least one of the discrete portions made of the second material. Other embodiments provide a thermal energy storage medium and a sensing medium.