https://newatlas.com/technology/smallest-qr-code-bacteria-tu-wien/ * SUBSCRIBE * LOG IN * HOME * TECH + AI and Humanoids + Architecture + Consumer Tech + Energy + Manufacturing + Materials + Military + Robotics + Space Systems + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY news + AI and Humanoids + Architecture + Consumer Tech + Energy + Manufacturing + Materials + Military + Robotics + Space Systems + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY news * TRANSPORT + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT news + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT news * OUTDOOR + Campers & Adventure Vehicles + Gear & Tools + Outdoor Toys + Tiny Houses + View all OUTDOOR news + Campers & Adventure Vehicles + Gear & Tools + Outdoor Toys + Tiny Houses + View all OUTDOOR news * SCIENCE + Astronomy + Biology + Environment + History + Physics + View all SCIENCE news + Astronomy + Biology + Environment + History + Physics + View all SCIENCE news * BODY & MIND + Medical Innovations + Wellness and Healthy Living + Illnesses and conditions + Brain Health + Medical Innovations + Wellness and Healthy Living + Illnesses and conditions + Brain Health (c) 2026 New Atlas New Atlas Logo Menu * HOME * TECH + AI and Humanoids + Architecture + Consumer Tech + Energy + Manufacturing + Materials + Military + Robotics + Space Systems + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY news * TRANSPORT + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT news * OUTDOOR + Campers & Adventure Vehicles + Gear & Tools + Outdoor Toys + Tiny Houses + View all OUTDOOR news * SCIENCE + Astronomy + Biology + Environment + History + Physics + View all SCIENCE news * BODY & MIND + Medical Innovations + Wellness and Healthy Living + Illnesses and conditions + Brain Health * SUBSCRIBE * LOG IN Show Search [ ]Search Query Submit Search * TECH * TRANSPORT * OUTDOOR * SCIENCE * HEALTH * SUBSCRIBE * HOME Technology Record-breaking microscopic QR code battle built to store our future By Abhimanyu Ghoshal February 20, 2026 * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Reddit * Flipboard * Email Inline image / New Atlas Record-breaking microscopic QR code battle built to store our future The TU Wien team in Vienna testing the QR code, viewed using an electron microscope The TU Wien team in Vienna testing the QR code, viewed using an electron microscope TU Wien View 5 Images The TU Wien team in Vienna testing the QR code, viewed using an electron microscope 1/5 The TU Wien team in Vienna testing the QR code, viewed using an electron microscope TU Wien Shrinking QR codes to microscopic scale doesn't just help set world records, it can also unlock new ways to store data 2/5 Shrinking QR codes to microscopic scale doesn't just help set world records, it can also unlock new ways to store data TU Wien The QR code is 'written' on to a thin ceramic film using focused ion beams 3/5 The QR code is 'written' on to a thin ceramic film using focused ion beams TU Wien This is the smallest QR code in the world, seen here through an electron microscope 4/5 This is the smallest QR code in the world, seen here through an electron microscope TU Wien TU Wien researcher Thomas Schachinger preparing the experiment 5/5 TU Wien researcher Thomas Schachinger preparing the experiment TU Wien Scroll for more View gallery - 5 images For those of us who weren't paying attention, over the last few years, scientists around the world have been one-upping each other in a bid to create the smallest QR code that can be reliably read. Now, Austria-based researchers have set the bar real high with a QR code so tiny, you'll need an electron microscope to see it. Material scientists from the TU Wien public research university in Vienna have shrunk the specialized barcode down to an area of 1.98 square micrometers, which is smaller than many bacteria, and is invisible to optical microscopes. It's officially earned the team a place in the Guinness World Records. "Structures on the micrometer scale are nothing unusual today - it is even possible to fabricate patterns made of individual atoms," said Professor Paul Mayrhofer from TU Wien's Institute of Materials Science and Technology. "However, that alone does not result in a stable, readable code." The QR code is 'written' on to a thin ceramic film using focused ion beams The QR code is 'written' on to a thin ceramic film using focused ion beams TU Wien Indeed, the previous record for the smallest QR code was set by a Germany-based team at the University of Munster, fitting a pattern into an area of just 5.38 square micrometers - many times smaller than a human red blood cell. So an advancement in this niche wasn't just about shaving off a few micrometers this way and that, but also about ensuring the QR code was usable over a long period of time in that tiny encoding area. The team collaborated with German startup Cerabyte, which specializes in long-term data storage technology, and chose to use a thin ceramic film as the medium. The idea here was that this material remains stable across conditions over extended periods, so the code etched onto it would be repeatedly readable. This is the smallest QR code in the world, seen here through an electron microscope This is the smallest QR code in the world, seen here through an electron microscope TU Wien The researchers used focused ion beams to mill the QR code onto the ceramic film, with individual pixels measuring just 49 nanometers each. At the size, those pixels are about 10 times smaller than the wavelength of visible light - which means you couldn't ever see this detailed code with visible light. Instead, it can only be viewed using an electron microscope. That makes the TU Wien team's QR code nearly three times smaller than the previous record-setter. But more importantly, it advances work in developing a durable, high-density data storage technology for the world's growing information archival needs. The researchers note that an A4 paper sheet-sized ceramic film could hold more than 2 TB of data. TU Wien researcher Thomas Schachinger preparing the experiment TU Wien researcher Thomas Schachinger preparing the experiment TU Wien Of course, there's a lot more work to be done in developing it. The scientists aim to advance their research by exploring other data structures beyond QR codes to write data, as well as other materials for reliable, energy-efficient, long-term storage. They also intend to look into how it can be made available outside of lab settings. The ceramic tech could go up against alternative data store technologies that are currently being investigated, including the use of DNA suspended in amber, a special magnetic molecule that allows small drives to store vast amounts of data, an entirely new form of magnetism for next-gen hard drives, and Microsoft's approach to etching data into glass using lasers. Source: TU Wien View gallery - 5 images Tags TechnologyQR codeTU WienData StorageCeramics * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Reddit * Flipboard * Email 2 comments Abhimanyu Ghoshal Abhimanyu Ghoshal Abhimanyu has been a trusted voice in the science, technology, transport innovations, startup and AI spaces for more than a decade at several global outlets, including three and a half years as the managing editor at TNW. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Psychology and Sociology. When he's not writing about breakthroughs in science and tech, he's usually out motorcycling around South India. Most Viewed * The Apollo laser firing Military Apollo laser takes down 200 drones unplugged * The stretch of thousands of holes earned the site its name, Mont Sierpe ("serpent mountain") Environment 5,200 holes carved into a Peruvian mountain left by an ancient economy * Toyota has teased a pickup truck platform that could be far more versatile than a Tacoma or Hilux Automotive Toyota's tiny, barebones IKEA pickup could be its most versatile ever Load More 2 comments Sign in to post a comment. Please keep comments to less than 150 words. No abusive material or spam will be published. Mike Vidal February 23, 2026 06:55 AM I was actually able to read the QR code with my phone based on the picture that you published. Pretty neat stuff. Brian M February 23, 2026 09:01 AM So basically the most useless QR code in the world Unless of course you carry a electron microscope around with you and who doesn't! Or as Mae West might have said 'is that an electron microscope in your pocket or are you just glad to.......' Saving comment... [ ] Post New Atlas Logo FREE NEWSLETTER More than 60,000 highly-engaged subscribers receive our email newsletter. Get your daily dose of extraordinary ideas! 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