Perpendicular magnetic recording thin film media using Co/Pd superlattice on ultrathin indium–tin–oxide seed layers

Co/Pd superlattices (13 bilayers) have been fabricated on ultrathin (2 nm) indium–tin–oxide (ITO) seed layers for use as perpendicular magnetic recording media. The ITO seed layers have significantly increased the coercivity from 1 to 5 kOe as well as the crystalline orientation texture. It was also found that excellent magnetic properties could be obtained by using Ar instead of Kr as sputtering gas. The sheared hysteresis loop and high squareness suggest weak intergranular coupling and adequate perpendicular magnetic anisotropy which make Co/Pd supelattice a promising candidate for ultrahigh recording densities with thermal stability.