This Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) project is supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities. It focusses on collaboration between Stanford University and IBM Almaden Research Center on an extremely important problem, increasing the durability and areal density of magnetic recording media. Professor Klug and his students at Stanford University will work in close collaboration with Drs. Wade and Sherwood at IBM Almaden to systematically study the overcoat-lubricant interface of hard disks using surface spectroscopy and solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Overcoats on sol-gel silicon dioxide and on amorphous carbon composed of perfluoro-polyethers will be the focus of this study. The technology of magnetic recording devices will be improved by this project and this high risk-high return project will enhance the educational experience of students. The students will gain broad experience in an industrial setting ranging from basic laboratory work to implementation in a manufacturing facility. The mentoring of these students by many industrial scientists will be invaluable to them as they make career decisions. Professor Klug and his students at Stanford University will collaborate with Drs. Wade and Sherwood at IBM Almaden Research Center in the Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry project to study the surfaces of magnetic recording materials. Through a systematic study of the lubrication properties of these surfaces computer hard disks will be developed that have increased data storage capacities and improved durability. Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy will be the central method used to study these surfaces and special attention to handling of these thin film materials will be required in this work in order to obtain useful information. Professor Klug and his students will gain valuable experience through collaboration with their IBM industrial partners during this project. Mentoring of these students by industrial scientists will be invaluable as they make future career decisions.
