ELECTRO-DEPOSITED PASSIVATION COATINGS FOR PATTERNED MEDIA

1 . A method of fabricating a magnetic recording disk, comprising:

providing a magnetic recording layer having a pattern of raised areas and recessed areas formed thereon;

providing a mask layer on the raised areas of the magnetic recording layer;

electrodepositing a first protection layer on the magnetic recording layer;

removing the mask layer; and

depositing a second protection layer above the first protection layer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein eletrodepositing comprises electroplating.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein electroplating comprises depositing material of the first protection layer only in the recessed areas of the magnetic recording layer.

4 . The method of claim 3 , the first protection layer comprises a metal.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first protection layer comprises aluminum.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first protection layer comprises a silicate.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first protection layer comprises an insulator.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising baking the first protection layer after electrodepositing and before depositing the second protection layer.

9 . The method of claim 3 , where the first protection layer comprises an aluminate.

10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first protection layer comprises a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, gold, copper, chromium, ruthenium, platinum and rhodium.

11 . The method of claim 3 , wherein after electroplating the method further comprises:

rinsing the first protection layer; and

annealing the first protection layer before removing the masking layer.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the masking layer comprises a non-conductive material.

13 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first protection layer has a thickness less than 1 micron.

14 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising electrodepositing one or more additional films on the first protection layer before depositing the second protection layer.

15 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein eletrodepositing comprises electroless plating the first protection layer on the mask layer and the recessed areas of the magnetic recording layer; and

wherein removing the mask layer comprises, removing the mask layer to lift off overlaying first protection layer.

16 . A magnetic recording disk, comprising:

a magnetic recording layer having a pattern of raised areas and recessed areas;

an electrodeposited first protection layer disposed only on the recessed areas; and

a second protection layer disposed on the electrodeposited first protection layer and the raised areas of the magnetic recording layer.

17 . The magnetic recording disk of claim 16 , wherein the electrodeposited layer comprises a metal.

18 . The magnetic recording disk of claim 16 , wherein the electrodeposited layer comprises a silicate.

19 . The magnetic recording disk of claim 16 , wherein the electrodeposited layer comprises an aluminate.

20 . The magnetic recording disk of claim 16 , wherein the electrodeposited layer comprises a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, gold, copper, chromium, ruthenium, platinum and rhodium.

21 . The magnetic recording disk of claim 16 , wherein the electrodeposited layer comprises a material having a crystalline structure.

22 . The magnetic recording disk of claim 16 , wherein the electrodeposited layer comprises a material having an amorphous structure.