Role of p-Hydroxybenzhydrazide Additive in Electrodeposition of Thin NiP Film Used as a Nonmagnetic Spacer in Laminated (CoFe/NiP) Nano Structures

Electrodeposition of NiP film used as a thin nanomagneic spacer in laminated multilayer (2.4T CoFe/NiP) n perpendicular writer pole for recording magnetic heads is described. The electrodeposition of laminated multilayers was carried out in a dual-bath automated electroplating tool. The thin NiP films with thickness from 2 to 5 nm were obtained as nonmagnetic amorphous NiP alloys with P-content higher than 18 at. %. The problem of composition gradient at the CoFe/NiP interface was solved by using a p-hydroxybenzhydrazide organic additive in the plating solution. The details of the electrodeposition of NiP films, the role of p-HBHy and properties of electrodeposited NiP films and CoFe/NiP multilayers are discussed.