Ehsan Rismani, M. Abdul Samad, Sunil K. Sinha, Reuben Yeo, Hao Yang, C. Singh Bhatia

Ultrathin Si/C graded layer to improve tribological properties of Co magnetic films

Applied Physics Letters 101 (2012) 00000

An ultrathin Si layer (<= 1 nm) deposited on Co magnetic films was bombarded with energetic C+ ions to form a Co/Si/C mixed layer. This layer improved the tribological properties of the Co film as compared with those of a commercial hard disk media with 3.0 nm carbon overcoat and 1.4 nm of lubricant. Formation of a network of C-C and Si-C bonds at the outermost layer and the bulk of the Si/C film as well as formation of chemical bonds between the Co surface and the mixed layer was found as the main factors to improve the tribological properties.

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