Abstract: A target of fullerene is placed with a substrate in a vacuum chamber. A charged beam, i.e., an electron beam or an ion beam, is directed at the target with a power adequate to emit fullerene molecules from the target and not high enough to form significant amounts of fullerene having a higher molecular structure than the target fullerenes. Fullerene is deposited on the substrate. Regardless of the approach used to deposit the fullerenes, the substrate can be heated during deposition to a temperature above the fullerene-to-fullerene disorption temperature to form a coating consisting of an approximate monolayer of fullerene.

Abstract: A multilayer coating of fullerene molecules is deposited on a substrate, and layers of the multilayer coating are removed leaving an approximate monolayer coating of fullerene molecules on the substrate. In some embodiments, a beam generator, such as an ion beam, electron beam or laser generator, produces a beam arranged to break the weaker fullerene-to-fullerene intermolecular bond of the multilayer coating and inadequate to break the stronger fullerene-to-substrate association/bond of the coating. The beam is directed at the multilayer coating to break the fullerene-to-fullerene intermolecular bond. In other embodiments, the monolayer of fullerene molecules is formed by applying a solvent to the multilayer coating to break the fullerene-to-fullerene intermolecular bond of the multilayer coating.

Abstract: An improved magnetic medium has a metal or semiconductor surface in which the surface of the magnetic medium has an approximate monolayer of fullerene molecules bonded to the metal or semiconductor surface. The bond strength between the fullerene molecules and the surface is stronger than the fullerene-fullerene intermolecular bond strength. The magnetic media can be used in the production of components for data storage system, in particular heads with magnetic transducers and magnetic or optical-magnetic discs. In methods for forming the fullerene coatings, an approximate monolayer of fullerene molecules are deposited on a metal or semiconductor surface substantially free of contaminants.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system.