Abstract:
A method of storing information. The method including: applying a layer of one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers to a substrate and thermally curing the layer to form a resin layer, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a hydrogen bonding cross-linking moiety, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety, and bringing a thermal-mechanical probe heated to a temperature of greater than 100° C. into proximity with the resin layer multiple times to induce deformed regions at points in the resin layer, the thermal-mechanical probe heating the points in the resin layer of the resin and thereby writing information in the resin layer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of high-density data storage and more specifically to compositions for a data storage medium, a data storage method and a data storage system using the data storage compositions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current data storage methodologies operate in the micron regime. In an effort to store ever more information in ever-smaller spaces, data storage density has been increasing. As data storage size increases and density increases and integrated circuit densities increase, there is a developing need for data storage and imaging methodologies that operate in the nanometer regime. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a composition of matter, comprising one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a hydrogen bonding cross-linking moiety, the moiety capable of forming two or more hydrogen bonds at room temperature, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is a method comprising: heating the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers of the first aspect to form a poly(aryl ether ketone) resin, the poly(aryl ether ketone) resin covalently cross-linked by cyclo-addition reactions of the phenylethynyl moieties. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is a method, comprising: forming a layer of poly(aryl ether ketone) resin by applying a layer of one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers and thermally curing the layer of one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a hydrogen bonding cross-linking moiety, the moiety capable of forming two or more hydrogen bonds at room temperature, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety, and bringing a thermal-mechanical probe heated to a temperature of greater than about 100° C. into proximity with the layer of a poly(aryl ether ketone) resin multiple times to induce deformed regions at points in the layer of the poly(aryl ether ketone) resin, the thermal mechanical probe heating the points in the layer of the resin and thereby writing information in the layer of the resin. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention is a data storage device, comprising: a recording medium comprising a layer of poly(aryl ether ketone) resin overlying a substrate, in which topographical states of the layer of the poly(aryl ether ketone) resin represent data, the poly(aryl ether ketone) resin comprising thermally cured one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a hydrogen bonding cross-linking moiety, the moiety capable of forming two or more hydrogen bonds at room temperature, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety; a read-write head having one or more thermo-mechanical probes, each of the one or more thermo-mechanical probes including a resistive region for locally heating a tip of the thermo-mechanical probe in response to electrical current being applied to the one or more thermo-mechanical probes; and a scanning system for scanning the read-write head across a surface of the recording medium. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A through 1C  illustrate the structure and operation of a tip assembly for a data storage device including the data storage medium according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a local probe storage array including the data storage medium according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1A through 1C  illustrate the structure and operation of a tip assembly  100  for a data storage device including the data storage medium according to the embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 1A , probe tip assembly  100  includes a U-shaped cantilever  105  having flexible members  105 A and  105 B connected to a support structure  110 . Flexing of members  105 A and  105 B provides for substantial pivotal motion of cantilever  105  about a pivot axis  115 . Cantilever  105  includes a tip  120  fixed to a heater  125  connected between flexing members  105 A and  105 B. Flexing members  105 A and  105 B and heater  125  are electrically conductive and connected to wires (not shown) in support structure  110 . In one example, flexing members  105 A and  105 B and tip  120  comprise highly-doped silicon and have a low electrical resistance, and heater  125  is formed of lightly doped silicon having a high electrical resistance sufficient to heat tip  120 , in one example, between about 100° C. and about 400° C. when current is passed through heater  125 . The electrical resistance of heater  125  is a function of temperature. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 1A  is a storage medium (or a recording medium)  130  comprising a substrate  130 A, and a cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B. In one example, substrate  130 A comprises silicon. Cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B may be formed by solution coating, spin coating, dip coating or meniscus coating uncured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin formulations and performing a curing operation on the resultant coating. In one example, cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B has a thickness between about 10 nm and about 500 nm and a surface roughness of less than about 1.0 nm evaluated in a 1 micron by 1 micron field and a variation in thickness of less than about 10% across the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer. Cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B includes thermally reversible hydrogen bonding cross-linking moieties as well as thermally irreversible (to at least 400° C.) covalent bonding cross-linking moieties. The composition of the uncured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin and cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B is described in detail infra. An optional penetration stop layer  130 C is shown between cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B and substrate  130 A. Penetration stop layer  130 C limits the depth of penetration of tip  120  into cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B. 
     Turning to the operation of tip assembly  100 , in  FIG. 1A , an indentation  135  is formed in cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B by heating tip  120  to a writing temperature T W  by passing a current through cantilever  105  and pressing tip  120  into cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B. Heating tip  120  and applying a load force, e.g. by electrostatic means, as described in Patent Application EP 05405018.2, 13 Jan. 2005, allows the tip to penetrate the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B forming indentation  135 , which remains after the tip is removed. In one example, the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B is heated to about 100° C. or higher (depending upon the composition of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) layer  130 B) by heated tip  120 , and a load force of less than 500 nN is applied (the exact value depending upon the composition of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) layer  130 B, the temperature of the heated tip and the desired indentation size) to form indentation  135 . As indentations  135  are formed, a ring  135 A of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomer is formed around the indentation. Indentation  135  represents a data bit value of “1”, a data bit value of “0” being represented by an absence of an indentation. 
       FIGS. 1B and 1C  illustrate reading the bit value. In  FIGS. 1B and 1C , tip assembly  100  is scanned across a portion of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B. When tip  120  is over a region of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B not containing an indentation, heater  125  is a distance D 1  from the surface of the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer (see  FIG. 1B ). When tip  120  is over a region of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B containing an indentation, heater  125  is a distance D 2  from the surface of the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer (see  FIG. 1C ) because the tip “falls” into the indentation. D 1  is greater than D 2 . If heater  125  is at a temperature T R  (read temperature), which is lower than T W  (write temperature), there is more heat loss to substrate  130 A when tip  120  is in an indentation than when the tip is not. This can be measured as a change in resistance of the heater, thus “reading” the data bit value. It is advantageous to use a separate heater for reading, which is mechanically coupled to the tip but thermally isolated from the tip. A typical embodiment is disclosed in Patent Application EP 05405018.2, 13 Jan. 2005. 
     “Erasing” (not shown) is accomplished by positioning tip  120  in close proximity to indentation  135 , heating the tip to a temperature T E  (erase temperature), and applying a loading force F E , which causes the previously written indent to relax to a flat state whereas a new indent is written slightly displaced with respect to the erased indent. The cycle is repeated as needed for erasing a stream of bits whereby an indent always remains at the end of the erase track. The erase temperature T E  and the erase force F E  may be chosen differently from the write temperature T W  and the write force F W . Typically, T E  is greater than T W , and/or F E  is smaller than F W . The erase pitch is typically on the order of the rim radius. In one example, the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B is heated to about 100° C. or higher by heated tip  120 , and the erase pitch is 10 nm to eliminate indentation  135 . 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a local probe storage array  140  including the data storage medium according to the embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , local probe storage array  140  includes substrate  145  having a cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  the same as cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C, which acts as the data-recording layer. An optional tip penetration stop layer may be formed between cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  and substrate  145 . In one example, substrate  145  comprises silicon. Cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  may be formed by solution coating, spin coating, dip coating or meniscus coating uncured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin formulations and performing a curing operation on the resultant coating. In one example, curing is performed between a temperature of about 300° C. and about 400° C. In one example, cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  has a thickness between about 10 nm and about 500 nm and a variation in thickness across a writeable region of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  of less than about 1.0 nm across the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer. The composition of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  is the same as cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B of  FIG. 1C . Positioned over cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  is a probe assembly  155  including an array of probe tip assemblies  100  (described supra). Probe assembly  155  may be moved in the X, Y and Z directions relative to substrate  145  and cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  by any number of devices as is known in the art. Switching arrays  160 A and  160 B are connected to respective rows (X-direction) and columns (Y-direction) of probe tip assemblies  100  in order to allow addressing of individual probe tip assemblies. Switching arrays  160 A and  160 B are connected to a controller  165  which includes a write control circuit for independently writing data bits with each probe tip assembly  100 , a read control circuit for independently reading data bits with each probe tip assembly  100 , an erase control circuit for independently erasing data bits with each probe tip assembly  100 , a heat control circuit for independently controlling each heater of each of the probe tip assembles  100 , and X, Y and Z control circuits for controlling the X, Y and Z movement of probe assembly  155 . The Z control circuit controls a contact mechanism (not shown) for contacting the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  with the tips of the array of probe tip assemblies  100 . 
     During a write operation, probe assembly  155  is brought into proximity to cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  and probe tip assemblies  100  are scanned relative to the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer. Local indentations  135  are formed as described supra. Each of the probe tip assemblies  100  writes only in a corresponding region  170  of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150 . This reduces the amount of travel and thus time required for writing data. 
     During a read operation, probe assembly  155  is brought into proximity to cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  and probe tip assemblies  100  are scanned relative to the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer. Local indentations  135  are detected as described supra. Each of the probe tip assemblies  100  reads only in a corresponding region  170  of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150 . This reduces the amount of travel and thus the time required for reading data. 
     During an erase operation, probe assembly  155  is brought into proximity to cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150 , and probe tip assemblies  100  are scanned relative to the cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer. Local indentations  135  are erased as described supra. Each of the probe tip assemblies  100  reads only in a corresponding region  170  of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150 . This reduces the amount of travel and thus time required for erasing data. 
     Additional details relating to data storage devices described supra may be found in the articles “ The Millipede—More than one thousand tips for future AFM data storage ,” P. Vettiger et al.,  IBM Journal of Research and Development . Vol. 44 No. 3, May 2000 and “ The Millipede—Nanotechnology Entering Data Storage ,” P. Vettiger et al.,  IEEE Transaction on Nanotechnology , Vol. 1, No, 1, Mar. 2002. See also United States Patent Publication 2005/0047307, published Mar. 3, 2005 to Frommer et al. and United States Patent Publication 2005/0050258, published Mar. 3, 2005 to Frommer et al., both of which are hereby included by reference in there entireties. 
     Turning to the composition of cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  130 B of  FIGS. 1A through 1C  and cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layer  150  of  FIG. 2 , there are multiple uncured resin formulations of poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomers containing moieties capable of forming two or more hydrogen bonds, terminal ethynyl moieties capable of covalent bonding and optional cross-linking agents that, when reacted (cured) together, cross-link to formed cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resin layers. The hydrogen bonding moieties provide thermally reversible hydrogen bond cross-linking, in a first example, at room temperature and, in a second example, below about 100° C. The terminal ethynyl moieties and optional cross-linking agents provide non-thermally reversible cross-linking. Room temperature is defined as a temperature between about 18° C. and about 25° C. It should be understood that for the purposes of the present invention curing an oligomer implies cross-linking the oligomer to form a resin. Oligomers themselves are short chain oligomers. In one example, the poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomers of the embodiments of the present invention advantageously have molecular weights between about 3000 Daltons and about 20,000 Daltons and preferably between about 4000 Daltons and about 8000 Daltons. 
     The poly(aryl ether ketone) medium or imaging layer of the embodiments of the present invention advantageously meets certain criteria. These criteria include high thermal stability to withstand millions of write and erase events, low wear properties (low pickup of material by tips), low abrasion (tips do not easily wear out), low viscosity for writing, glassy character with little or no secondary relaxations for long data bit lifetime, and shape memory for erasability. 
     Cured poly(aryl ether ketone) resins according to embodiments of the present invention have high temperature stability while maintaining a low glass transition temperature (Tg). 
     The glass transition temperature should be adjusted for good write performance. To optimize the efficiency of the write process there should be a sharp transition from the glassy state to the rubbery state. A sharp transition allows the cured resin to flow easily when a hot tip is brought into contact and quickly return to the glassy state once the hot tip is removed. However, too high a T g  leads to high write currents and damage to the probe tip assemblies described supra. 
     Because the cross-linking bonds between poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomers formed by the hydrogen bonding linkers are thermally reversible, less energy is required to thermally deform the poly(aryl ether ketone) resin as breaking the hydrogen bonds effectively and momentarily lowers the T g  of the poly(aryl ether ketone) resin, which then returns to its higher value when the heat source is removed and the hydrogen bonds reestablish themselves. 
     Further control over the cross-link density was achieved by adding controlled amounts of reactant diluents described infra that enhance covalent cross-linking. These reactive diluents form a high density of cross-links that enhance the wear properties of the poly(aryl ether ketone) medium without greatly increasing the T g  or breadth of the glass transition. 
     A formulation of poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymer according to embodiments of the present invention comprises one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers, each poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymer of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers having the structure: 
     (i) m repeat units represented by the structure —R 1 —O—R 2 —O— interspersed with n repeat units represented by the structure —R 3 —O—R 2 —O—, each repeat unit of the m repeat units terminated by a first terminal group represented by the structure R 4 —O— and a second terminal group represented by the structure —R 1 —O—R 4 ; or 
     (ii) m repeat units represented by the structure —R 1 —O—R 2 —O— interspersed with n repeat units represented by the structure —R 3 —O—R 2 —O—, each repeat unit of the m repeat units terminated by a first terminal group represented by the structure R 6 —O—R 2 — and a second terminal group represented by the structure —R 6 ; 
     wherein O=oxygen, and occurs as a link between all R groups; 
     wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of: 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     wherein R 2  is selected from the group consisting of: 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     wherein R 3  is selected from the group consisting of 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     wherein R 5  is selected from the group consisting of 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     wherein R 4  is selected from the group consisting of mono(arylacetylenes), mono(phenylethynyls), 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     wherein R 6  is selected from the group consisting of mono(arylacetylenes), mono(phenylethynyls), 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     wherein, for either (i) or (ii), m and n are integers of 1 or more, m+n is from about 3 to about 30, and the ratio m/n is about 2 or more. 
     The acetylene moieties in the R 4  groups react during thermal curing with each other to cross-link the poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers into a poly(aryl ether ketone) resin by cyclo-addition. 
     In a first example, poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers according to embodiments of the present invention advantageously have a molecular weight between about 3000 Daltons and about 20,000 Daltons and preferably between about 4000 Daltons and about 8000 Daltons. 
     As indicated supra, reactive diluents may be added to the poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymer formulations prior to thermal curing. Examples of reactive diluents include structure XXI: 
                                
where R 7 , R 8  and R 9  are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups, aryl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, alkylamino groups, arylamino groups, alkylarylamino groups, arylthio, alkylthio groups and structure XXII:
 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     It should be noted that reactive diluents XXI and XXII each contain three substituted phenylethynyl groups. The phenylethynyl groups of the poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomers and the phenylethynyl group&#39;s reactive diluents provide the cross-linking of the poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomers into a poly(aryl ether ketone) resin. 
     An exemplary hydrogen-bonding cross-linking of poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomers according to embodiments of the present invention is illustrated in structure (XXIII). The thermally reversible hydrogen bonds (indicated by the dashed lines) are capable of evanescence and reversion. Generally speaking evanescence and reversion of a thermally reversible bond is an equilibrium process. Above a threshold temperature, evanescence of the bond is favored. Below the threshold temperature, reversion of the bond is favored. Hydrogen bonding may also be described as a donation and withdrawal of electrons to a thermally reversible bond. Structures (XIIIA), (XIIIA), (XIV), (XVIA) and (XVIB) are capable of forming two hydrogen bonds each. Moieties containing three or more ═N—H groups may be substituted for structures (XIIIA), (XIIIA), (XIV), (XVIA) and (XVIB) and would be each capable of forming numbers of hydrogen bonds corresponding to the number of ═N—H groups in the monomer. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     By contrast, covalent bonds are not capable of evanescence and reversion as described supra, but remain relatively stable over a range of temperatures, until such temperatures at which the bond irreversibly/permanently degrades. 
     EXPERIMENTAL 
     Preparation of N-(5-uracil-yl)-4,4′-difluorobenzophenone imine (precusor of monomer structure XV where R 5  is structure XVIA) 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In a round bottom flask equipped with an overhead stirrer, 1.16 grams (0.009 mole) of 5-aminouracil was charged along with 6 grams (0.027 mole) of 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and a N-methylpyrrolidone/N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone solvent mixture (50/50, 20 milliliters). The reaction mixture was then heated to 180° C. for 3 days. A charge of hexanes (100 milliliters) was added to fully induce precipitation, and the solid was isolated by filtration and twice recrystallized from isopropanol. The product was rinsed with isopropanol, suction dried, and vacuum dried in an oven overnight. 
     Preparation of 1,3-bis(4-fluorobenzoylamino)benzene (precusor of monomer structure XIIIA) 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     1,3-Phenylenediamine (10.8 grams, 0.1 mole) was dissolved in 500 milliliters dichloromethane and triethylamine (28.0 milliliters, 20.2 grams, 0.2 mole) was added. The solution was chilled to 0° C. before 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride (24.0 milliliters, 31.7 grams, 0.2 mole) was added drop-wise over the course of 30 minutes. After stirring for 2 hours at 0° C., the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature (25° C.) and stirred for 18 hours. The resulting precipitate was isolated by filtration and suction dried. The precipitate was re-suspended in 300 milliliters of refluxing ethanol for 30 minutes, then cooled, isolated by filtration, rinsed with ethanol, suction dried, and vacuum dried in an oven overnight. The yield was 32.0 grams of white powder. 
     Preparation of 2,6-bis(4-fluorobenzoylamino)pyridine (precusor of mononer structure XIIIB) 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     2,6-Diaminopyridine (10.9 grams, 0.1 mole) was dissolved in 500 milliliters dichloromethane and trietbylamine (28.0 milliliters, 20.2 grams, 0.2 mole) was added. The solution was chilled to 0° C. before 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride (24.0 milliliters, 31.7 grams, 0.2 mole) was added drop-wise over the course of 30 minutes. After stirring for 2 hours at 0° C., the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature (25° C.) and stirred for 18 hours. The resulting precipitate was isolated by filtration and suction dried. The precipitate was recrystallized from 300 milliliters of refluxing ethanol, isolated by filtration, rinsed with ethanol, suction dried, and vacuum dried in an oven overnight. The yield was 34.0 grams of white crystals. 
     Preparation of exemplary poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymer of structure (i) 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     A mixture of 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone (1.2123 grams, 5.556 mmol), 1,3-bis(4-fluorobenzoylamino)benzene (0.4889 grams, 1.389 mmol), resorcinol (0.7111 grams, 6.459 mmol), 3-hydroxydiphenylacetylene (0.1886 grams, 0.972 mmol) and anhydrous potassium carbonate (3 grams) in dimethylformamide (10 milliliters) and toluene (25 milliliters) was mechanically stirred and heated in a 130° C. oil-bath under a dinitrogen atmosphere for 21 hours, while periodically removing toluene via a Dean-Stark trap. The temperature of the oil-bath was then raised to 150° C. for 9 hours. The mixture was cooled, tetrahydrofuran (10 milliliters) was added, and the slurry was poured into methanol (400 milliliters) with 1 M aqueous. HCl added (50 milliliters). The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration, rinsed with methanol, suction dried, then dried in a vacuum oven to give 1.5 grams of an off-white powder. 
     The (i) structure poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomer preparation just described should not be thought of as requiring the monomers within the ( )y being in a first linear subsequence followed by all monomers within the ( )(1-y) being in a second linear subsequence; they are shown that way to indicate there are y and (1-y) numbers of the two monomers respectively. Rather, the two monomers may be arranged in a linear sequence with (a) all y type monomers in one subsequence and all (1-y) type monomers in another subsequence, (b) in an alternating sequence, (c) in other regular repeating sequences or (d) in random sequence. Further, n must be at least 1 and indicates that there is a least one ( )y group and at least one ( )(1-y) group. 
     Preparation of exemplary poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymer of structure (ii) 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     A mixture of 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone (0.867 grams, 5.900 mmol), DFBI (0.4809 grams, 1.470 mmol), resorcinol (0.70 grams, 6.35 mmol), 4-fluoro-4′-(phenylethynyl)benzophenone (0.267 grams, 0.89 mmol) and anhydrous potassium carbonate (3 grams) in dimethylformamide (10 milliliters) and toluene (25 milliliters) was mechanically stirred and heated in a 130° C. oil bath under a dinitrogen atmosphere for 21 hours, while periodically removing toluene via a Dean-Stark trap. The temperature of the oil bath was then raised to 150° C. for 9 hours. The mixture was cooled, tetrahydrofuran (10 milliliters) was added, and the slurry was poured into methanol (400 milliliters). The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration, rinsed with methanol, suction dried, then dried in a vacuum oven to give 1.3 grams of an off-white powder. 
     The (ii) structure poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomer preparation just described should not be thought of as requiring the monomers within the ( )x being in a first linear subsequence followed by all monomers within the ( )y being in a second linear subsequence; they are shown that way to indicate there are x and y numbers of the two monomers respectively. Rather, the two monomers may be arranged in a linear sequence with (a) all x type monomers in one subsequence and all y type monomers in another subsequence, (b) in an alternating sequence, (c) in other regular repeating sequences or (d) in random sequence. Further, there is a least one ( )y group and at least one ( )x group. 
     Thus, the embodiments of the present invention provide data storage and imaging methodologies that operate in the nanometer regime. 
     The description of the embodiments of the present invention is given above for the understanding of the present invention. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions as will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the following claims cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.