According to one embodiment, a lubricant includes a multidentate perfluoropolyether having a chemical structure of: Re—Rz—Ri—Rz—Ri—Rz—Re, where Rz includes at least one perfluoroethyl ether unit, and where Re and Ri each include at least one functional group configured to attach to a surface. According to another embodiment, the aforementioned lubricant may be suitable for use in a sub-nanometer thick lubricant layer for various applications, and particularly useful for magnetic recording media.