Microstructure and magnetic properties of Co/Pd multilayered thin films with C or Si seedlayer

Microstructure and magnetic properties of sputter deposited Co/Pd multilayered perpendicular magnetization films with amorphous C or Si seedlayer were investigated. The angstrom scale surface roughness of the seedlayer causes fine crystal grains to form in the Co/Pd multilayer and to decrease the extent of intergranular exchange coupling, while it obstructs the formation of a regular interface between Co and Pd layers. The Si seedlayer, which exhibits a surface roughness lower than the C seedlayer, yields Co/Pd multilayered films with the lowest intergranular exchange coupling and the highest coercivity. The improvement in magnetic properties of the Co/Pd film with Si seedlayer is attributable mainly to the formation of Pd2Si at the interface between the Co/Pd layer and the Si seedlayer. The Pd2Si provides suitable nucleation sites for the grain growth of Co/Pd multilayered film that can be utilized as a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.