CoB/Pd multilayers with PtB/Pd/MgO intermediate layers for perpendicular magnetic recording

CoB/Pd multilayer films with a PtB/Pd/MgO intermediate layer were deposited on a soft-magnetic underlayer or on seeded substrates. A TEM analysis revealed that the multilayer films have a well-separated columnar structure just above an MgO layer. This structure may be initiated by the difference in the wetting nature of nonmetallic MgO and metallic Pd, and may be enhanced by the PtB layer. These boundaries were found to act in reducing the exchange coupling, resulting in an improvement in recording performance.