Covalently bound monolayer for a protective carbon overcoat

A method comprising:

• injecting one or more gasses into an ionization source, wherein the one or more gasses are selected from:
• hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), or combinations thereof, and one or more carrier gases;
• placing a shield between the ionization source and the magnetic data storage medium;
• ionizing the one or more gasses in the ionization source to form ions of the one or more gasses;
• and
• depositing a monolayer on a surface of a protective carbon overcoat of a magnetic data storage medium, wherein the monolayer comprises at least one species of ions of the one or more gasses, and wherein the monolayer is covalently bound to carbon atoms of the protective carbon overcoat.

A method comprising:

• injecting one or more gasses into an ionization source, wherein the one or more gasses comprise hydrogen (H)2, and one or more carrier gases;
• placing a shield between the ionization source and the magnetic data storage medium;
• ionizing the one or more gasses in the ionization source to form ions of the one or more gasses;
• and
• depositing a monolayer on a surface of a protective carbon overcoat of a magnetic data storage medium, wherein the monolayer comprises species of ions of the at least one of the one or more gasses, and wherein the monolayer is covalently bound to carbon atoms of the protective carbon overcoat.