Hybridized Oxide Capping Layer for Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy
First Claim
1. A hybrid oxide capping layer (HOCL) that induces or enhances perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an adjoining ferromagnetic layer in a magnetic device, comprising:
- (a) an interface oxide layer made by oxidation of a first metal or alloy layer which forms an interface with the adjoining ferromagnetic layer; and
(b) one or more transition metal oxide layers formed by oxidation of one or more transition metal layers wherein each transition metal has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation less than that of the first metal or alloy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid oxide capping layer (HOCL) is disclosed and used in a magnetic tunnel junction to enhance thermal stability and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in an adjoining free layer. The HOCL has a lower interface oxide layer and one or more transition metal oxide layers wherein each of the metal layers selected to form a transition metal oxide has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation less than that of the metal used to make the interface oxide layer. One or more of the HOCL layers is under oxidized. Oxygen from one or more transition metal oxide layers preferably migrates into the interface oxide layer during an anneal to further oxidize the interface oxide. As a result, a less strenuous oxidation step is required to initially oxidize the lower HOCL layer and minimizes oxidative damage to the free layer.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A hybrid oxide capping layer (HOCL) that induces or enhances perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an adjoining ferromagnetic layer in a magnetic device, comprising:
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(a) an interface oxide layer made by oxidation of a first metal or alloy layer which forms an interface with the adjoining ferromagnetic layer; and (b) one or more transition metal oxide layers formed by oxidation of one or more transition metal layers wherein each transition metal has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation less than that of the first metal or alloy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), comprising:
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(a) a reference layer; (b) a tunnel barrier layer formed between the reference layer and a free layer; (c) the free layer that forms a first interface with a surface of the tunnel barrier layer, and that forms a second interface with an adjoining interface oxide layer in a hybrid oxide capping layer structure; and (d) the hybrid oxide capping layer structure comprised of; (1) the interface oxide layer that forms the second interface with the free layer, the interface oxide layer is made of a first metal or first alloy; (2) a first transition metal oxide layer formed from a second metal or second alloy that has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation less than that of the first metal or first alloy; and (3) a second transition metal oxide layer formed from a third metal or third alloy that has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation less than that of the first metal or first alloy. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), comprising:
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(a) a reference layer; (b) a tunnel barrier layer; and (c) a laminated structure represented by (free layer/HOCL)m where m is ≧
2 and HOCL is a hybrid oxide capping layer comprised of a lower interface oxide layer and at least an upper transition metal oxide layer having an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation less than that of the interface oxide layer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of forming a hybrid oxide capping layer in a magnetic device, comprising:
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(a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing a first metal or first alloy layer on the substrate and performing a first oxidation step that at least partially oxidizes the first metal or first alloy layer to form an interface oxide layer; (c) depositing a second metal or second alloy layer on the interface oxide layer and performing a second oxidation step that at least partially oxidizes the second metal or second alloy layer to form a first transition metal oxide layer, the second metal or second alloy has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation that is less than that of the first metal or first alloy; (d) depositing a third metal or third alloy layer on the first transition metal oxide layer and performing a third oxidation step that at least partially oxidizes the third metal or third alloy layer to form a second transition metal oxide layer, the third metal or third alloy has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation that is less than that of the first metal or first alloy; and (e) performing an anneal process that increases an oxidation state of the interface oxide layer to form a hybrid oxide capping layer (HOCL) comprised of a lower interface oxide layer, a first transition metal oxide layer, and a second transition metal oxide layer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification