Magnetic Tunnel Junctions Using Amorphous Materials as Reference and Free Layers
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- forming a tunnel barrier selected from the group of tunnel barriers consisting of MgO and Mg—
ZnO;
forming first and second amorphous ferromagnetic layers in proximity with respective underlayers by depositing Co and at least one other element on each of the underlayers, wherein the amorphous layers and the tunnel barrier are formed in proximity to one another to permit spin-polarized current to pass between the first and second amorphous layers through the tunnel barrier, thereby forming a magnetic tunnel junction, the magnetic tunnel junction having a tunnel magnetoresistance of at least 100% at room temperature; and
forming in proximity with the second amorphous layer at least one of the following;
i) an antiferromagnetic layer that exchange biases the second amorphous magnetic layer, andii) an additional magnetic layer and an antiferromagnetic coupling layer in proximity with the second amorphous magnetic layer, so that the additional magnetic layer, the coupling layer, and the second amorphous magnetic layer form a synthetic antiferromagnet reference layer, wherein the coupling layer couples the second amorphous magnetic layer and the additional magnetic layer.
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Abstract
Magnetic tunnel junctions are constructed from a MgO or Mg—ZnO tunnel barrier and amorphous magnetic layers in proximity with, and on respective sides of, the tunnel barrier. The amorphous magnetic layer preferably includes Co and at least one additional element selected to make the layer amorphous, such as boron. Magnetic tunnel junctions formed from the amorphous magnetic layers and the tunnel barrier have tunneling magnetoresistance values of up to 200% or more.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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forming a tunnel barrier selected from the group of tunnel barriers consisting of MgO and Mg—
ZnO;forming first and second amorphous ferromagnetic layers in proximity with respective underlayers by depositing Co and at least one other element on each of the underlayers, wherein the amorphous layers and the tunnel barrier are formed in proximity to one another to permit spin-polarized current to pass between the first and second amorphous layers through the tunnel barrier, thereby forming a magnetic tunnel junction, the magnetic tunnel junction having a tunnel magnetoresistance of at least 100% at room temperature; and forming in proximity with the second amorphous layer at least one of the following; i) an antiferromagnetic layer that exchange biases the second amorphous magnetic layer, and ii) an additional magnetic layer and an antiferromagnetic coupling layer in proximity with the second amorphous magnetic layer, so that the additional magnetic layer, the coupling layer, and the second amorphous magnetic layer form a synthetic antiferromagnet reference layer, wherein the coupling layer couples the second amorphous magnetic layer and the additional magnetic layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification