High performance phase change optical recording disk has been developed by
using an oxygen-doped Ge-Sb-Te recording layer. The 5X10(5) overwrite cycle
s were achieved with this 6 at.% oxygen-doped phase change optical recordin
g disk. The transmission electron microscope observation shows that the cry
stal grain size was enlarged and the "self-sharpening effect" disappeared w
ith increasing of oxygen concentration. It is thought that the oxygen dopin
g made it easy to grow the uniform large grain size without the self-sharpe
ning effect around the amorphous mark and therefore, the overwrite cyclabil
ity of the phase change optical recording disk was improved. (C) 1999 Ameri
can Vacuum Society. [S0734-2101(99)01606-1].