Near field transducers (NFTS) including barrier layer and methods of forming

A device having an air bearing surface (ABS), the device comprising:

• a near field transducer (NFT) comprising:
• a disc having a front edge;
• a peg, the peg having a front surface at the air bearing surface of the apparatus, an opposing back surface, a top surface that extends from the front surface to the back surface, two side surfaces that extend from the front surface to the back surface and a bottom surface that extends from the front surface to the back surface;
• and
• a barrier layer, the barrier layer separating at least the back surface of the peg from the disc and the barrier layer having a thickness from 15 nm to 50 nm
• wherein the barrier layer is entirely in front of the front edge of the disc and the surface of the barrier layer that contacts the back surface of the peg is greater than 2 nm away from the front edge of the disc.

A device having an air bearing surface (ABS), the device comprising:

• a near field transducer (NFT) comprising:
• a disc having a front edge;
• a peg, the peg having a front surface at the air bearing surface of the apparatus, an opposing back surface, a top surface that extends from the front surface to the back surface, two side surfaces that extend from the front surface to the back surface and a bottom surface that extends from the front surface to the back surface;
• and
• a barrier layer, the barrier layer separating at least the back surface, the side surfaces and the top surface of the peg from the disc and the barrier layer extending along the top surface and side surfaces of the peg to the air bearing surface.