U.S. patent application number 14/179185 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for coptcr-based bit patterned magnetic device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Seagate Technology LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Seagate Technology LLC. Invention is credited to Erol Girt, Samuel D. Harkness, IV, Hans J. Richter, Dieter K. Weller.
Application Number | 20140287268 14/179185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39225365 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140287268 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weller; Dieter K. ; et
al. |
September 25, 2014 |
CoPtCr-BASED BIT PATTERNED MAGNETIC DEVICE
Abstract
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a plurality of spaced
apart perpendicular magnetic elements. Each of the magnetic
elements includes a respective discrete magnetic domain and each of
the magnetic elements includes a magnetic recording layer
comprising a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material, where
0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.35 and 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15.
Inventors: |
Weller; Dieter K.; (San
Jose, CA) ; Richter; Hans J.; (Palo Alto, CA)
; Harkness, IV; Samuel D.; (Berkeley, CA) ; Girt;
Erol; (Berkeley, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Seagate Technology LLC |
Cupertino |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Seagate Technology LLC
Cupertino
CA
|
Family ID: |
39225365 |
Appl. No.: |
14/179185 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11525958 |
Sep 25, 2006 |
8673466 |
|
|
14179185 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
428/831 ;
428/832.1; 428/836.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 5/855 20130101;
G11B 5/7379 20190501; G11B 5/667 20130101; G11B 5/656 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/831 ;
428/832.1; 428/836.1 |
International
Class: |
G11B 5/65 20060101
G11B005/65 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart
perpendicular magnetic elements above a surface of a substrate,
wherein each of the magnetic elements comprises a respective
discrete magnetic domain, and wherein each of the magnetic elements
comprises a seed layer and a magnetic recording layer, wherein the
magnetic recording layer comprises a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y
alloy material, where 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.35 and
0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material has a first order
magnetic anisotropy constant K.sub.1 up to approximately
2.times.10.sup.7 erg/cm.sup.3, a saturation magnetization M.sub.s,
up to approximately 1200 emu/cm.sup.3, and an anisotropy field
H.sub.k=2K.sub.1/M.sub.s up to approximately 35 kOe.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the perpendicular
magnetic recording layer has a hexagonal (0001) crystal structure
with c-axis perpendicular to a surface thereof and an X-Ray
diffraction (XRD) rocking curve with a full width at half maximum
(FWHM) of .about.5.degree. or less.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seed layer is
lattice matched to and configured to promote growth of the
perpendicular magnetic recording layer with a hexagonal (0001)
crystal structure with c-axis perpendicular to a surface thereof
and an XRD rocking curve with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of
.about.5.degree. or less.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the seed layer is
from approximately 5 to approximately 10 nm thick.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the seed layer is
formed of elemental ruthenium (Ru).
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
0.23.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.33, y=0, and the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material is a
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.x alloy material with a high perpendicular
magnetic anisotropy K of at least approximately 1.1.times.10.sup.7
erg/cm.sup.3.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein x=0.25 and the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.x alloy material is Co.sub.3Pt.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material has a high
perpendicular magnetic anisotropy K of at least approximately
3.times.10.sup.6 erg/cm.sup.3.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the perpendicular
magnetic recording layer is from approximately 5 to approximately
20 nm thick.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is
ferromagnetic and comprises a magnetically soft material.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
spaced apart perpendicular magnetic elements are arranged in a
patterned array at a density in the range from approximately 250
Gbit/in.sup.2 to approximately 10 Tbit/in.sup.2, and each of the
magnetic elements has a shape selected from the group consisting of
cylindrically shaped and of equal height, cubic shaped, spherically
shaped, and shaped as an elongated parallelepiped.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
protective overcoat layer over the perpendicular magnetic recording
layer; and the apparatus further comprises: a non-magnetic material
filling spaces between neighboring magnetic elements.
14. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of spaced apart
perpendicular magnetic elements, wherein each of the magnetic
elements comprises a respective discrete magnetic domain, and
wherein each of the magnetic elements comprises a magnetic
recording layer comprising a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy
material, where 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.35 and
0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the
magnetic elements comprises a stack of film layers, wherein the
stack comprises a respective magnetic recording layer and a seed
layer.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
magnetic elements are above a substrate.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the substrate is
ferromagnetic and comprises a magnetically soft material.
18. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of spaced apart
perpendicular magnetic elements above a surface of a substrate,
wherein each of the magnetic elements comprises a respective
discrete magnetic domain, and wherein each of the magnetic elements
comprises a seed layer and a magnetic recording layer, wherein the
magnetic recording layer comprises a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y
alloy material, where 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.35 and
0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15, and wherein the substrate is ferromagnetic
and comprises a magnetically soft material.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the seed layer is
above a soft under layer (SUL), and wherein the SUL is above the
substrate.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the seed layer is
formed of elemental ruthenium (Ru).
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/525,958, titled "CoPtCr-based bit patterned
magnetic media", filed 25 Sep. 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to improved bit-patterned
magnetic media ("BPM") with magnetic layer/underlayer structure
providing ultra-high areal recording density, and to methods of
fabricating same. The invention has particular utility in the
manufacture and use of high areal recording density magnetic media,
e.g., in hard disk form, suitable for use in computer-related
applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Designers, manufacturers, and users of electronic computers
and computing systems require reliable and efficient equipment for
storage and retrieval of information in digital form. Conventional
storage systems, such as magnetic disk drives, are typically
utilized for this purpose and are well known in the art. However,
the amount of information that is digitally stored continually
increases, and designers and manufacturers of magnetic recording
media work to increase the storage capacity of magnetic disks.
[0004] In conventional magnetic disk data/information storage, the
data/information is stored in a continuous magnetic thin film
overlying a substantially rigid, non-magnetic disk. Each bit of
data/information is stored by magnetizing a small area of the thin
magnetic film using a magnetic transducer (write head) that
provides a sufficiently strong magnetic field to effect a selected
alignment of the small area (magnetic grain) of the film. The
magnetic moment, area, and location of the small area comprise a
bit of binary information which must be precisely defined in order
to allow a magnetic read head to retrieve the stored
data/information.
[0005] Such conventional magnetic disk storage media incur
drawbacks and disadvantages which adversely affect realization of
high areal density data/information storage, as follows:
[0006] (1) the boundaries between adjacent pairs of bits tend to be
ragged in continuous magnetic films, resulting in noise generation
during reading; and
[0007] (2) the requirement for increased areal recording density
has necessitated a corresponding decrease in recording bit size or
area. Consequently, grain sizes of continuous film media have
become extremely minute, e.g., on the order of nanometers (nm). In
order to obtain a sufficient output signal from such minute bits,
the saturation magnetization (M.sub.5) and thickness of the film
must be as large as possible. However, the magnetization of such
minute bits is extremely small, resulting in a loss of stored
information due to magnetization reversal by "thermal fluctuation",
also known as the "superparamagnetic effect".
[0008] Regarding item (2), it is further noted that for
longitudinal type continuous magnetic media, wherein the magnetic
easy axis is oriented parallel to the film plane (i.e., surface),
magnetization reversal by the superparamagnetic effect may occur
even with relatively large magnetic particles or grains, thereby
limiting future increases in areal recording density to levels
necessitated by current and projected computer-related
applications. On the other hand, for perpendicular type continuous
magnetic media, wherein the magnetic easy axis is oriented
perpendicular to the film plane (i.e., surface), growth of the
magnetic particles or grains in the film thickness direction
increases the volume of magnetization of the particles or grains
while maintaining a small cross-sectional area (as measured in the
film plane). As a consequence, onset of the superparamagnetic
effect can be suppressed for very small particles or grains of
minute width. However, further decrease in grain width in
perpendicular media necessitated by increasing requirements for
areal recording density will inevitably result in onset of the
superparamagnetic effect even for such type media.
[0009] The superparamagnetic effect is a major limiting factor in
increasing the areal recording density of continuous film magnetic
recording media. Superparamagnetism results from thermal
excitations which perturb the magnetization of grains in a
ferromagnetic material, resulting in unstable magnetization. As the
grain size of magnetic media is reduced to achieve higher areal
recording density, the superparamagnetic instabilities become more
problematic. The superparamagnetic effect is most evident when the
grain volume V is sufficiently small such that the inequality
KV/k.sub.BT>40 cannot be maintained, where K is the magnetic
crystalline anisotropy energy density of the material, k.sub.B is
Boltzmann's constant, and T is the absolute temperature. When this
inequality is not satisfied, thermal energy demagnetizes the
individual magnetic grains and the stored data bits are no longer
stable. Consequently, as the magnetic grain size is decreased in
order to increase the areal recording density, a threshold is
reached for a given K and temperature T such that stable data
storage is no longer possible.
[0010] So-called "patterned" or "bit patterned" magnetic media
("BPM") have been proposed as a means for overcoming the
above-described problem of conventional continuous magnetic media
associated with magnetization reversal via the superparamagnetic
effect, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,956,216, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The term
"patterned" media generally refers to magnetic data/information
storage and retrieval media wherein a plurality of discrete,
independent regions of magnetic material form discrete, independent
magnetic elements which function as recording bits are formed on a
non-magnetic substrate. Since the regions of ferromagnetic material
comprising the magnetic bits or elements are independent of each
other, mutual interference between neighboring bits can be
minimized. As a consequence, patterned magnetic media are
advantageous vis-a-vis continuous magnetic media in reducing
recording losses and noises arising from neighboring magnetic
bits.
[0011] Generally, each magnetic bit or element has the same size
and shape, and is composed of the same magnetic material as the
other elements. The elements are arranged in a regular pattern over
the substrate surface, with each element having a small size and
desired magnetic anisotropy, so that, in the absence of an
externally applied magnetic field, the magnetic moments of each
discrete magnetic element will aligned along the same magnetic easy
axis. Stated differently, the magnetic moment of each discrete
magnetic element has only two states: the same in magnitude but
aligned in opposite directions. Each discrete magnetic element
forms a single magnetic domain or bit and the size, area, and
location of each domain is determined during the fabrication
process.
[0012] During writing operation of patterned media, the direction
of the magnetic moment of the single magnetic domain element or bit
is flipped along the easy axis, and during reading operation, the
direction of the magnetic moment of the single magnetic domain
element or bit is sensed. While the direction of the magnetic easy
axis of each of the magnetic domains, elements, or bits can be
parallel or perpendicular to the surface of the domain, element, or
bit, corresponding to conventional continuous longitudinal and
perpendicular media, respectively, patterned media comprised of
domains, elements, or bits with perpendicularly oriented magnetic
easy axis are advantageous in achieving higher areal recording
densities for the reasons given above.
[0013] Patterned media in disk form offer a number of advantages
relative to conventional disk media. Specifically, the writing
process is changed, requiring synchronization of the head to the
media; this results in much lower noise and lower error rate,
thereby allowing much higher areal recording density. In patterned
disk media, the writing process does not define the location,
shape, and magnetization value of a bit, but merely flips the
magnetization orientation of a patterned single domain magnetic
structure. Writing of data can be essentially perfect, even when
the transducer head deviates slightly from the intended bit
location and partially overlaps neighboring bits, as long as only
the magnetization direction of the intended bit is flipped. By
contrast, in conventional magnetic disk media, the writing process
must define the location, shape, and magnetization of a bit.
Therefore, with such conventional disk media, if the transducer
head deviates from the intended location, the head will write to
part of the intended bit and to part of the neighboring bits.
Another advantage of patterned media is that crosstalk between
neighboring bits is reduced relative to conventional media, whereby
areal recording density is increased. Each individual magnetic
element, domain, or bit of a patterned medium can be tracked
individually, and reading is less jittery than in conventional
disks.
[0014] Notwithstanding the substantial increase in recording/data
storage performance capability afforded by bit patterned media
(BPM) vis-a-vis conventional continuous film-based media, the
escalating requirements for even higher areal recording densities
necessitate further development of reliable, high magnetic
performance BPM with optimal magnetic materials and layer
structures. Consequently, there exists a clear need for improved
bit patterned media with higher areal recording densities than are
presently available, and which include magnetic layer structures
which provide optimal bit patterned media function in terms of
magnetic performance characteristics, stability, and ease of
fabrication.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0015] An advantage of the present invention is improved bit
patterned magnetic recording media.
[0016] Another advantage of the present invention is improved bit
patterned media with improved magnetic recording characteristics
and capable of bit densities in the range from about 250
Gbit/in.sup.2 to about 10 Tbit/in.sup.2
[0017] Still another advantage of the present invention is an
improved method of fabricating bit patterned media with improved
magnetic recording characteristics and capable of bit densities in
the range from about 250 Gbit/in.sup.2 to about 10
Tbit/in.sup.2
[0018] Additional advantages and other aspects and features of the
present invention will be set forth in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from the practice of the present invention. The advantages
of the present invention may be realized and obtained as
particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
[0019] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
foregoing and other advantages are obtained in part by an improved
bit patterned magnetic recording medium, comprising:
[0020] (a) a substrate having a surface; and
[0021] (b) a plurality of spaced apart magnetic elements on the
surface, each of the elements constituting a discrete magnetic
domain or bit of the same structure and comprised of a stack of
thin film layers, said stack including, in order from the substrate
surface: [0022] (i) a seed layer; and [0023] (ii) a perpendicular
magnetic recording layer in contact with a surface of the seed
layer and comprising a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material,
where 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.35 and 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15.
[0024] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention,
the Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material has a first order
magnetic anisotropy constant K.sub.1 up to about 2.times.10.sup.7
erg/cm.sup.3, a saturation magnetization M.sub.s up to about 1200
emu/cm.sup.3 an anisotropy field H.sub.K=2 K.sub.1M.sub.s up to
about 35 kOe, a hexagonal (0001) crystal structure with c-axis
perpendicular to a surface thereof and an X-Ray diffraction (XRD)
rocking curve with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of
.about.5.degree. or less.
[0025] In accordance with further preferred embodiments of the
present invention, the seed layer is lattice matched to and
promotes growth of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer with
a hexagonal (0001) crystal structure with c-axis perpendicular to a
surface thereof and an XRD rocking curve with full width at half
maximum (FWHM) of .about.5.degree. or less. Preferably, the seed
layer is from about 5 to about 10 nm thick, and is formed of
elemental Ru or an alloy thereof, or of Pt or Pd, or an alloy
thereof.
[0026] Preferred embodiments of the invention include those wherein
0.23.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.33, y=0, and the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material is a Co.sub.1-xPt.sub.x
alloy material with a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy K of
at least about 1.1.times.10.sup.7 erg/cm.sup.3. Further embodiments
of the invention include those wherein x=0.25 and said
Co.sub.1-xPt.sub.x alloy material is Co.sub.3Pt, and wherein
0.19.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.33, 0.05.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15, and the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material has a high
perpendicular magnetic anisotropy K of at least about
3.times.10.sup.6 erg/cm.sup.3.
[0027] Preferably, the perpendicular magnetic recording layer is
from about 5 to about 20 nm thick.
[0028] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention,
the substrate is ferromagnetic and comprises a magnetically soft
material, or the substrate is non-magnetic and the layer stack
further comprises a layer of magnetically soft material (SUL)
between the seed layer and the substrate surface.
[0029] According to still further preferred embodiments of the
present invention, the layer stack further comprises a protective
overcoat layer over the perpendicular magnetic recording layer; the
plurality of spaced apart magnetic elements are arranged in a
patterned array at a density in the range from about 250
Gbit/in.sup.2 to about 10 Tbit/in.sup.2; each of the magnetic
elements is cylindrically shaped and of equal height, cubic shaped,
spherically shaped, or shaped as an elongated parallelepiped; and
the medium further comprises:
[0030] (c) a non-magnetic material filling spaces between
neighboring magnetic elements.
[0031] Another aspect of the present invention is an improved
method of fabricating a bit patterned magnetic recording medium,
comprising steps of:
[0032] (a) providing a substrate having a surface; and
[0033] (b) forming a plurality of spaced apart magnetic elements on
the surface, each of the elements constituting a discrete magnetic
domain or bit of the same structure and comprised of a stack of
thin film layers, the stack including, in order from the substrate
surface: [0034] (i) a seed layer; and [0035] (ii) a perpendicular
magnetic recording layer in contact with a surface of the seed
layer and comprising a layer of a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y
alloy material, where 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.35 and
0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15, the layer of Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y
alloy material having a first order magnetic anisotropy constant
K.sub.1 up to about 2.times.10.sup.7 erg/cm.sup.3, a saturation
magnetization M.sub.s up to about 1200 emu/cm.sup.3, an anisotropy
field H.sub.K=2K.sub.1M.sub.s up to about 35 kOe, a hexagonal
(0001) crystal structure with c-axis perpendicular to a surface
thereof and an X-Ray diffraction (XRD) rocking curve with a full
width at half maximum (FWHM) of .about.5.degree. or less.
[0036] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention,
step (b) comprises forming the seed layer of elemental Ru or an
alloy thereof, or Pt or Pd, or an alloy thereof, which seed layer
is lattice matched to and promotes growth of the perpendicular
magnetic recording layer with a hexagonal (0001) crystal structure
with c-axis perpendicular to a surface thereof and an XRD rocking
curve with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of .about.5.degree. or
less.
[0037] Further preferred embodiments of the present invention
include those wherein step (b) comprises forming a
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material wherein
0.23.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.33, y=0, and the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material has a high
perpendicular magnetic anisotropy K of at least about
1.1.times.10.sup.7 erg/cm.sup.3, and wherein step (b) comprises
forming a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material wherein
0.19.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.33, 0.05.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15, and the
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material has a high
perpendicular magnetic anisotropy K of at least about
3.times.10.sup.6 erg/cm.sup.3.
[0038] In accordance with still further preferred embodiments of
the invention, step (a) comprises providing a ferromagnetic
substrate comprised of a magnetically soft material or comprises
providing a non-magnetic substrate with a layer of a magnetically
soft material (SUL) on a surface thereof and underlying the seed
layer formed in step (b); and the method further comprises a step
of:
[0039] (c) forming a protective overcoat layer over the
perpendicular magnetic recording layer.
[0040] Still further preferred embodiments of the present invention
include those wherein step (b) comprises forming the plurality of
spaced apart magnetic elements arranged in a patterned array on the
substrate surface at a density in the range from about 250
Gbit/in.sup.2 to about 10 Tbit/in.sup.2, each of the magnetic
elements being cylindrically shaped and of equal height, cubic
shaped, spherically shaped, or shaped as an elongated
parallelepiped.
[0041] Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following detailed description, wherein embodiments of the present
invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of
the best mode contemplated for practicing the present invention. As
will be described, the present invention is capable of other and
different embodiments, and its several details are susceptible of
modification in various obvious respects. Accordingly, the drawings
and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and
not as limitative.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The following detailed description of the embodiments of the
present invention can best be understood when read in conjunction
with the following drawings, in which the features are not
necessarily drawn to scale but rather are drawn as to best
illustrate the pertinent features and the same reference numerals
are employed throughout for designating similar features,
wherein:
[0043] FIG. 1 is a simplified, schematic perspective view of a
portion of a bit patterned magnetic recording medium according to
an illustrative, but nonlimitative, embodiment of the present
invention;
[0044] FIG. 2 is a simplified, schematic cross-sectional view of a
bit or element according to an illustrative, but non-limitative,
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0045] FIG. 3 is a graph for illustrating variation of magnetic
anisotropy of Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy materials
according to the invention as a function of Pt content.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0046] The present invention has been made with the aim of
providing further improvements in bit patterned magnetic recording
media for satisfying the continuously escalating requirements for
even higher areal recording densities (e.g., on the order of
Tbit/in.sup.2) in computer-related data/information storage and
retrieval applications. As indicated supra, there exists a clear
need for improved bit patterned media with higher areal recording
densities than are presently available, and which include magnetic
recording layer materials and structures which provide optimal bit
patterned media function in terms of magnetic performance
characteristics, stability, and ease of fabrication.
[0047] As indicated above, in bit patterned magnetic recording
media ("BPM"), the continuous magnetic recording layer or film of
conventional media is replaced with a plurality of discrete
elements (or "bits"), each comprising at least one magnetic
recording layer. Each discrete magnetic element or bit is separated
from neighboring elements or bits by a non-magnetic material, the
interelement spacing being sufficiently large to eliminate or
reduce exchange interactions between the elements. Each element or
bit is of the same size and shape, comprised of the same layer
structure and materials, and arrayed in a regular pattern on the
surface of a suitable substrate. Each element or bit is of small
physical size, with a preferred shape anisotropy, such that, in the
absence of an applied magnetic field, the magnetic moments of each
element or bit are aligned along a specific axis of the element or
bit. As a consequence, the magnetic moments of each of the elements
or bits exist in only two states which are equal in magnitude but
aligned in opposite directions. Notwithstanding presence of
multiple magnetic grains in each discrete element or bit, each
element or bit constitutes a single magnetic domain, the size,
area, and location of each element or bit predetermined in the
fabrication process. A writing operation of bit patterned media
involves "flipping" the direction of the magnetic moment of the
single magnetic domain. A reading operation of bit patterned media
involves sensing the direction of the magnetic moment of the single
magnetic domain. The "easy" axis of the direction of the magnetic
moment of the single magnetic domain can be parallel to the surface
of the medium, as in "longitudinal" recording, or perpendicular to
the surface of the medium, as in "perpendicular" recording. The
present invention is primarily directed toward the latter type
(i.e., perpendicular) type of recording.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, shown therein is a simplified,
schematic perspective view of a portion of a bit patterned
perpendicular magnetic recording medium 10 according to an
illustrative, but non-limitative, embodiment of the present
invention. As illustrated, medium 10 comprises a substrate 14, a
regularly arrayed plurality of cylindrical column-shaped discrete
magnetic elements or bits 16 (sometimes referred to as "dots"),
each forming a single magnetic domain, a non-magnetic material 18
(e.g., an oxide, such as AlO.sub.x, SiO.sub.x, WO.sub.3,
Nb.sub.2O.sub.5, TiO.sub.2, etc., or a nitride, such as SiN.sub.x,
AlN.sub.x, TiN.sub.x, etc.) filling the spaces between neighboring
elements or bits 16, and a protective overcoat layer (not shown in
the figure for illustrative clarity) on the upper surface of the
medium. As shown by the vertically directed arrows in the figure,
the cylindrical columnar-shaped elements or bits have magnetization
easy axis vectors of equal magnitude extending in opposing
directions along the long axis of each element or bit, which
vectors are perpendicular to surface 17 of medium 10.
[0049] While in the illustrated embodiment, the elements or bits 16
are shown as cylindrical column-shaped, bit patterned media such as
medium 10 are not limited to the exemplary arrangement shown in
FIG. 1 and may comprise elements or bits having a variety of
shapes, configurations, areal densities, and array patterns. For
example, elements or bits 16 may be being cylindrically shaped and
of equal height (as in the illustrated embodiment), cubic shaped,
spherically shaped, or in the form of an elongated parallelepiped,
and may be arrayed in linear row and column, hexagonal
close-packing, etc., patterns. According to the present invention,
bit densities may vary widely, and range from about 250
Gbit/in.sup.2 to about 10 Tbit/in.sup.2.
[0050] Further, in the illustrated embodiment wherein medium 10 is
a perpendicular medium comprising discrete magnetic elements or
bits 16 in the form of cylindrically shaped columns with
magnetization easy axis vectors extending in opposing directions
perpendicular to the surface 17 of medium 10, substrate 14 may
comprise a magnetically soft material, or the substrate may
comprise a non-magnetic material with a layer of magnetically soft
material 15 ("SUL") formed on the surface 14A of the substrate over
which the magnetic elements or bits 16 are formed. Typical
dimensions of cylindrical columnar shaped magnetic elements or bits
16 with perpendicular magnetic recording layers include lengths
from about 5 to about 20 nm and diameters from about 2.5 to about 5
nm.
[0051] Adverting to FIG. 2, shown therein is a simplified,
schematic cross-sectional view of a bit or element 16 according to
an illustrative, but nonlimitative, embodiment of the present
invention. As illustrated, each cylindrical column-shaped element
16 includes a layer stack 20. The latter includes, in overlying
order, a respective portion of substrate 14 comprised of a
magnetically soft material (or a non-magnetic material with SUL 15
formed thereon), a seed layer 19, and a magnetically hard
perpendicular recording layer 21. A portion of a protective
overcoat layer, typically comprising a carbon-based material such
as diamond-like carbon ("DLC") overlies the uppermost surface of
the medium (which layer is not shown in the figure for illustrative
clarity).
[0052] The thickness of substrate 14 is not critical; however, in
the case of magnetic recording media for use in hard disk
applications, substrate 14 must be of a thickness to provide the
necessary rigidity. Suitable magnetically soft, low coercivity
materials for use as substrate 14 include, but are not limited to:
Ni, Co, Fe, a Fe-containing alloy such as NiFe (Permalloy), FeN,
FeSiAl, FeSiAlN, FeTaC, a Co-containing alloy such as CoZr, CoZrCr,
CoZrTa, CoZrNb, or a CoFe containing alloy such as CoFeZrNb,
CoFeZrTa, CoFe, FeCoB, FeCoCrB, and FeCoC. Alternatively, substrate
14 may be formed of a non-magnetic material such as, but not
limited to: Al, Al--Mg alloys, other Al-based alloys, NiP-plated Al
or Al-based alloys, glass, ceramics, glass-ceramics, polymeric
materials, and composites or laminates of these materials, with an
about 50 to about 300 run thick layer of any of the aforementioned
magnetically soft materials formed thereon as a SUL 15.
[0053] With continued reference to FIG. 2, according to the
invention, the seed layer 19 is from about 5 to about 10 nm thick
and typically formed of elemental Ru or an alloy thereof (e.g.,
RuCr), or Pt or Pd, or an alloy thereof. Seed layer 19 is lattice
matched to and promotes growth of the perpendicular magnetic
recording layer with a hexagonal (0001) crystal structure with
c-axis perpendicular to a surface thereof and an X-ray diffraction
(XRD) rocking curve with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of
.about.5.degree. or less.
[0054] While a number of materials forming layers with hcp or fcc
crystallographic structure may be utilized as the seed layer 19,
e.g., CoCr, CoCrRu, CoCrPt, CoCrTa, Cu, etc., Ru is advantageously
utilized for seed layer 19 because it forms smooth, continuous,
hexagonal films on the abovementioned SUL materials, e.g., FeCoB,
when deposited thereon (as by sputtering) in thicknesses of about
10 nm or less. Further, Ru has a good crystal lattice match to Co
and CoPt magnetic alloys, and its films are very well-textured, as,
e.g., characterized by (XRD) rocking curve with full width at half
maximum (FWHM) of .about.5.degree. or less. Finally, Ru films
advantageously have a (0001) crystal orientation with the c-axis of
the hexagonal unit cell directed perpendicular to the film plane.
CoPt-based magnetically hard recording layers epitaxially formed
thereon (e.g., as by sputtering utilizing a target with alloy
composition corresponding to the desired layer composition) assume
the orientation of the underlying Ru seed layer with the low FWHM
angle described supra, whereby perpendicularly anisotropic
magnetically hard recording layers are formed. Alternative
materials for use as seed layer 19 include (111) face-centered
materials such as Pt, Pd, and alloys thereof.
[0055] Overlying and in contact with the surface of seed layer 19
is at least one magnetically hard perpendicular recording layer 21
comprising a Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material. According
to the present invention, layer 21 is from about 5 to about 20 nm
thick and the Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy material has a
first order magnetic anisotropy constant K.sub.1 up to about
2.times.10.sup.2 erg/cm.sup.3, a saturation magnetization M.sub.s
up to about 1100 emu/cm.sup.3, an anisotropy field
H.sub.K=2K.sub.1/M.sub.s up to about 35 kOe, a hexagonal (0001)
crystal structure with c-axis perpendicular to a surface thereof
and an X-Ray diffraction (XRD) rocking curve with a full width at
half maximum (FWHM) of .about.5.degree. or less.
[0056] According to the invention, the choice/selection of magnetic
parameters, such as K and M.sub.s, depends upon the bit density of
the media to be fabricated. By way of illustration, but not
limitation, for media with lower bit densities on the order of
about 250 Gb/in.sup.2, K and M.sub.s are relatively lower, e.g.,
4.times.10.sup.6 erg/cm.sup.3 and 800-1000 emu/cm.sup.3,
respectively; whereas, for media with higher bit densities on the
order of about 10 Tbit/in.sup.2, K and M.sub.s are relatively
higher, e.g., 1-2.times.10.sup.2 erg/cm.sup.3 and 1000-1200
emu/cm.sup.3, respectively.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 3, shown therein is a graph illustrating
the variation of magnetic anisotropy K of
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy materials according to the
invention as a function of Pt and Cr content, wherein Cr is added
to CoPt alloys for increasing corrosion resistance of the films. As
may be evident from FIG. 3, addition of Cr degrades the magnetic
anisotropy K in proportion to its content, with .about.15 at. % Cr
considered as an upper practical limit of Cr content. However, the
data of FIG. 3 allow for determination of optimal
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy compositions for obtaining
desirably high values of magnetic anisotropy K. Specifically,
optimally high values of magnetic anisotropy K for use m
perpendicular bit patterned media are obtained when
0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.35 and 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15. Other
preferred materials according to the present invention for use in
perpendicular bit patterned media include
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy materials wherein
0.23.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.33, y=0, which Co.sub.1-xPt.sub.x (noting
y=0) alloys have a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy K of at
least about 1.1.times.10.sup.7 erg/cm.sup.3, and
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy materials wherein
0.19.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.33, 0.05.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.1 5, which
Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloys have a high perpendicular
magnetic anisotropy K of at least about 3.times.106
erg/cm.sup.3
[0058] According to the invention, each constituent layer of the
layer stacks 20 comprising the magnetic elements or bits 16, as
well as the protective overcoat layer, may be deposited or
otherwise formed by any suitable technique utilized for formation
of thin film layers, e.g., any suitable physical vapor deposition
("PVD") technique, including, but not limited to, sputtering,
vacuum evaporation, ion plating, cathodic arc deposition ("CAD"),
etc., or by any combination of various PVD techniques. A lubricant
topcoat layer may be provided over the upper surface of the
protective overcoat layer in any convenient manner, e.g., as by
dipping the thus-formed medium into a liquid bath containing a
solution of the lubricant compound.
[0059] Further according to the invention, medium 10 with discrete
magnetic elements or bits 16 may be formed in any conventional
manner, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,769, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such
methods include initial deposition of a layer stack 20 of desired
structure or design, such as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
2, which layer stack extends continuously over the surface of
substrate 14, followed by patterning according to conventional
techniques, including, for example, physical and/or chemical
deposition and materials removal methodologies including
photolithographic masking, etching, etc., or by photolithographic
masking followed by selective deposition of materials comprising
the layer stack 20 through apertures formed in the masking layer.
In addition, it should again be noted that the present invention is
not limited to formation of circular, columnar shaped discrete
magnetic elements 16 arrayed in a hexagonal close packed pattern as
in FIG. 1; rather, the invention is broadly applicable to all
manner of shapes and array patterns of discrete magnetic elements
or bits.
[0060] Thus, the present invention advantageously provides improved
performance, high areal density, bit patterned magnetic media which
media provide a wide range of areal recording densities extending
from the Gbit/in.sup.2 range to the Tbit/in.sup.2 range by virtue
of utilization of the improved Co.sub.1-x-yPt.sub.xCr.sub.y alloy
materials described herein. The media of the present invention
enjoy particular utility in ultra-high recording density systems
for computer-related applications. In addition, the inventive media
can be fabricated by means of conventional media manufacturing
technologies, as indicated above.
[0061] In the previous description, numerous specific details are
set forth, such as specific materials, structures, processes, etc.,
in order to provide a better understanding of the present
invention. However, the present invention can be practiced without
resorting to the details specifically set forth. In other
instances, well-known processing materials and techniques have not
been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the
present invention.
[0062] Only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and
but a few examples of its versatility are shown and described in
the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present
invention is capable of use in various other combinations and
environments and is susceptible of changes and/or modifications
within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.
* * * * *