Multilayer structures for magnetic recording devices to facilitate targeted magnetic switching and low coercivity
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to magnetic recording heads (such as write heads of data storage devices) that include multilayer structures to facilitate targeted switching and relatively low coercivity. In one or more embodiments, a magnetic recording head includes an iron-cobalt (FeCo) layer having a crystalline structure that is a cubic lattice structure, a first crystalline layer formed of a first material, and a second crystalline layer between the first crystalline layer and the FeCo layer. The second crystalline layer is formed of a second material different from the first material, and the second crystalline layer interfaces both the FeCo layer and the first crystalline layer. The crystalline structure of the FeCo layer has a texture of <100>.
1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a lower pole;
an upper pole;
a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole; and
one or more shield structures between the upper pole and the main pole;
wherein at least one of the main pole, the lower pole, the upper pole, or the one or more shield structures includes a multilayer structure comprising:
an iron-cobalt (FeCo) layer having a crystalline structure that is a cubic lattice structure;
a first crystalline layer formed of a first material; and
a second crystalline layer formed of a second material different from the first material.
2. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the one or more shield structures include a trailing shield, and the trailing shield includes the multilayer structure.
3. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the multilayer structure further comprises:
an amorphous seed layer, wherein:
the first crystalline layer is disposed between the amorphous seed layer and the FeCo layer,
the second crystalline layer is disposed between the first crystalline layer and the FeCo layer, and
the second crystalline layer interfaces both the FeCo layer and the first crystalline layer.
4. The magnetic recording head of claim 3 , wherein the crystalline structure of the FeCo layer is body-centered cubic (BCC) and has a texture of <100>, and wherein the first crystalline layer is formed of an alloy.
5. The magnetic recording head of claim 4 , wherein the second crystalline layer includes chromium (Cr) at a Cr atomic percentage that is 85% or greater.
6. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the FeCo layer comprises an Fe atomic percentage of about 23% to about 100% and a Co atomic percentage between about 65% to about 75%.
7. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the FeCo layer comprises a plurality of grains having a mean grain size of 18 nm or higher.
8. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 1 .
9. A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a ferromagnetic layer;
a first crystalline layer formed of a first material;
a second crystalline layer between the first crystalline layer and the ferromagnetic layer, the second crystalline layer formed of a second material different from the first material, and the second crystalline layer interfacing both the ferromagnetic layer and the first crystalline layer; and
a hot seed layer, the hot seed layer comprising the ferromagnetic layer.
10. The magnetic recording head of claim 9 , wherein the ferromagnetic layer comprises iron-cobalt (FeCo).
11. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , further comprising a main pole, wherein:
one of more of the first crystalline layer and the second crystalline layer is in a gap between the hot seed layer and the main pole.
12. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , further comprising a main pole and one or more shields for the main pole, wherein at least one of the one or more shields comprises the ferromagnetic layer.
13. The magnetic recording head of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of one or more shields is a trailing shield that comprises the ferromagnetic layer.
14. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 9 .
15. A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a lower pole;
an upper pole;
a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole; and
a trailing shield disposed between the main pole and the upper pole, the trailing shield comprising a multilayer structure, wherein the multilayer structure comprises:
an amorphous seed layer;
an iron-cobalt (FeCo) layer having a crystalline structure that is a cubic lattice structure;
a first crystalline layer formed of a first material; and
a second crystalline layer between the first crystalline layer and the FeCo layer, the second crystalline layer formed of a second material different from the first material, and the second crystalline layer interfacing both the FeCo layer and the first crystalline layer.
16. The magnetic recording head of claim 15 , wherein the crystalline structure of the FeCo layer is body-centered cubic (BCC) and has a texture of <100>.
17. The magnetic recording head of claim 15 , wherein the second crystalline layer includes chromium (Cr) at a Cr atomic percentage that is 85% or greater and a surface energy that is 2.25 J/m2 or higher.
18. The magnetic recording head of claim 15 , wherein the FeCo layer comprises an Fe atomic percentage of about 23% to about 100% and a Co atomic percentage between about 65% to about 75%.
19. The magnetic recording head of claim 15 , wherein one of more of the first crystalline layer and the second crystalline layer is in a gap between the FeCo layer and the main pole.
20. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 15 .