Exchange-coupled SmTbCo dual-layer media are prepared by an r.f magnetron sputtering system and their magnetic properties are investigated. The prepared SmTbCo dual layer is composed of a 340emu/cm3 TM-rich readout layer and a 5.80kOe RE-rich memory layer, meeting the requirements of high saturation magnetization and large coercivity for hybrid recording. Through exchange coupling, the coercivity of the high-saturation-magnetization SmTbCo layer is greatly enhanced from 1.85 to 5.96kOe. The calculated interface wall energy for Sm6.65Tb12.35Co81...