Electrodeposition of Si has gained interest recently due to the relative simplicity of electrochemical processing over conventional methods of Si deposition. In this report, we present our progress in the development of Si nanowire arrays electrodeposited from SiCl4 in an ionic liquid electrolyte, specifically tri-methylhexyl ammonium (TMHA(+)) bis(trifluorosulfonyl) amide (TFSA(-)). Characterization of deposition conditions for nanowires, as well as preliminary results for electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) measurements of planar deposits are discussed as part of our effort to further the understanding of the reaction mechanisms in Si electrodeposition in ionic liquid.

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Discrete track media (DTM) and bit-patterned media (BPM) are being extensively studied as routes to achieve higher density hard disk drives. In the DTM and BPM, it is essential to isolate the data tracks or bits with non-magnetic materials to reduce the magnetic noise from adjacent tracks or bits. In contrast to the conventional procedure of physically etching the media, we attempted to isolate the tracks or bits with soft regions using an area-selective ion irradiation method. We prepared hard and soft nano-composite structures by nanoimprinting, followed by ion irradiation. In this study, we confirmed the magnetic reversal process of the hard and soft regions of the nano-composite structure using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) with various external applied magnetic fields. The analysis of the magnetization reversal process of patterned Coupled Granular Continuous (CGC) films with weak exchange coupling confirmed the validity of this novel approach for the fabrication of DTM and BPM.

This paper describes the development of Co alloy films thinner than 50 nm with high perpendicular magnetic coercivity using an electroless deposition process. In order to obtain these films, we used a Cu underlayer for a heteroepitaxial growth of the Co alloys and an optimized bath composition which included sodium hypophosphite and hydrazine as reductants. As a results, the perpendicular coercivity of the films turned to be higher 3000 Oe at the initial deposition stage with the thickness lower than 80 nm. In particular, the high perpendicular magnetic coercivity of the film as thin as 25 nm thick was obtained. These results indicate that electroless deposition is applicable for formation of the films with high perpendicular magnetic coercivity by optimizing the deposition conditions.

To increase the areal density of hard disk drives (HDDs), discrete track media (DTM) and bit-patterned media (BPM) are being extensively studied. In the DTM and BPM, it is essential to isolate data tracks or bits. Unlike isolating the data tracks or bits using the conventional procedure involving physical etching, we attempted to isolate the tracks or bits with a soft guard band using an area-selective ion irradiation method. We prepared hard and soft (H/S) patterned films by nanoimprinting followed by ion irradiation. We confirmed the magnetic isolation of tracks and bits using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) images and magnetooptical Kerr effect (MOKE) signals. The results of an analysis of the magnetic properties of patterned coupled granular continuous (CGC) films with weak exchange coupling confirmed the validity of this novel approach for the fabrication of DTM and BPM.