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Analytical TEM Examinations of CoPt-TiO2 Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media

Journal Article · · Microscopy and Microanalysis

For this analytical TEM study, nonmagnetic oxygen-rich boundaries were introduced into Co-Ptalloy perpendicular recording media by cosputtering Co and Pt with TiO2. Increasing the TiO2 content resulted in changes to the microstructure and elemental distribution within grains and boundaries in these films. EFTEM imaging was used to generate composition maps spanning many tens of grains, thereby giving an overall depiction of the changes in elemental distribution occurring with increasing TiO2 content. Comparing EFTEM with spectrum-imaging maps created by high-resolution STEM with EDXS and EELS enabled both corroboration of EFTEM results and quantification of the chemical composition within individual grain boundary areas. The difficulty of interpreting data from EDXS for these extremely thin films is discussed. Increasing the TiO2 content of the media was found to create more uniformly wide Ti- and O-rich grain boundaries as well as Ti- and O-rich regions within grains.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Shared Research Equipment Collaborative Research Center
Sponsoring Organization:
SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
931895
Journal Information:
Microscopy and Microanalysis, Journal Name: Microscopy and Microanalysis Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 13; ISSN MIMIF7; ISSN 1431-9276
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English