The researchers hold out the prospect of a disk-based storage system matching or exceeding tape archive density. However, the working life of an atomic force microscope tip is currently measured at 50-200 hours in intermittent touch (tapping) mode versus 5-50 hours in continuous touch mode.

Unless and until a long-lasting C-AFM tip can be created, this would seem to be a fatal flaw in their molecular hard drive concept.

While there are many issues around cost and productization, this seems like an important weakness in the proof of concept.