Memory cell having magnetic tunnel junction and thermal stability enhancement layer
First Claim
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1. A magnetic device, comprisinga bottom electrode in a first plane;
- a perpendicular synthetic antiferromagnetic structure, the perpendicular synthetic antiferromagnetic structure including a magnetic reference layer in a second plane, the magnetic reference layer having a magnetization direction that is perpendicular to the second plane and having a fixed magnetization direction;
a non-magnetic tunnel barrier layer in a third plane and disposed over the magnetic reference layer;
a free magnetic layer in a fourth plane and disposed over the non-magnetic tunnel barrier layer, the free magnetic layer having a magnetization vector that is perpendicular to the fourth plane and having a magnetization direction that can switch from a first magnetization direction to a second magnetization direction, the magnetic reference layer, the non-magnetic tunnel barrier layer and the free magnetic layer forming a magnetic tunnel junction;
a non-magnetic thermal stability enhancement coupling layer in a fifth plane and disposed over the free magnetic layer;
a magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer in a sixth plane that is physically separated from the free magnetic layer and coupled to the free magnetic layer by the non-magnetic thermal stability enhancement coupling layer, the magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer having a magnetization direction that is perpendicular to the sixth plane and having a magnetization direction that can switch from the first magnetization direction to the second magnetization direction, wherein switching of the magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer from the first magnetization direction to the second magnetization direction tracks switching in the magnetic free layer; and
a cap layer in a seventh plane and disposed over the thermal stability enhancement layer.
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Abstract
A magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) device is disclosed. The device described herein has a thermal stability enhancement layer over the free layer of a magnetic tunnel junction. The thermal stability enhancement layer improves the thermal stability of the free layer, increases the magnetic moment of the free layer, while also not causing the magnetic direction of the free layer to become in plan. The thermal stability enhancement layer can be comprised of a layer of CoFeB ferromagnetic material.
312 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A magnetic device, comprising
a bottom electrode in a first plane; -
a perpendicular synthetic antiferromagnetic structure, the perpendicular synthetic antiferromagnetic structure including a magnetic reference layer in a second plane, the magnetic reference layer having a magnetization direction that is perpendicular to the second plane and having a fixed magnetization direction; a non-magnetic tunnel barrier layer in a third plane and disposed over the magnetic reference layer; a free magnetic layer in a fourth plane and disposed over the non-magnetic tunnel barrier layer, the free magnetic layer having a magnetization vector that is perpendicular to the fourth plane and having a magnetization direction that can switch from a first magnetization direction to a second magnetization direction, the magnetic reference layer, the non-magnetic tunnel barrier layer and the free magnetic layer forming a magnetic tunnel junction; a non-magnetic thermal stability enhancement coupling layer in a fifth plane and disposed over the free magnetic layer; a magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer in a sixth plane that is physically separated from the free magnetic layer and coupled to the free magnetic layer by the non-magnetic thermal stability enhancement coupling layer, the magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer having a magnetization direction that is perpendicular to the sixth plane and having a magnetization direction that can switch from the first magnetization direction to the second magnetization direction, wherein switching of the magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer from the first magnetization direction to the second magnetization direction tracks switching in the magnetic free layer; and a cap layer in a seventh plane and disposed over the thermal stability enhancement layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A magnetic device, comprising:
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a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction having a magnetic reference layer and a magnetic free layer, the magnetic reference layer and the magnetic free layer separated by a non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer, the magnetic reference layer having a fixed magnetic direction that is perpendicular to its plane, the magnetic free layer having a variable magnetic direction that can switch between a first perpendicular magnetic direction and second perpendicular magnetic direction, wherein the first perpendicular magnetic direction and the second perpendicular magnetic direction is perpendicular to the magnetic free layer; a magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer disposed over the magnetic free layer of the magnetic tunnel junction, the magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer comprising a magnetic material having a variable magnetic direction that can switch between the first perpendicular magnetic direction and the second perpendicular magnetic direction, wherein switching of the magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer from the first magnetization direction to the second magnetization direction tracks switching in the magnetic free layer; and a non-magnetic thermal stability enhancement coupling layer disposed in between and physically separating the magnetic free layer of the magnetic tunnel junction and the magnetic thermal stability enhancement layer, the non-magnetic thermal stability enhancement coupling layer magnetically coupling the free magnetic layer and the magnetic thermal stability coupling layer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification