摘要:
A method for fabricating a longitudinally hard biased, bottom spin valve GMR sensor with a lead overlay (LOL) conducting lead configuration and a narrow effective trackwidth. The advantageous properties of the sensor are obtained by providing two novel barrier layers, one of which prevents oxidation of and Au diffusion into the free layer during annealing and etching and the other of which prevents oxidation of the capping layer during annealing so as to allow good electrical contact between the lead and the sensor stack.
摘要:
A method for forming a bottom spin valve sensor element with a novel seed layer and synthetic antiferromagnetic pinned layer and the sensor so formed. The novel seed layer comprises an approximately 30 angstrom thick layer of NiCr whose atomic percent of Cr is 31%. On this seed layer there can be formed either a single bottom spin valve read sensor or a symmetric dual spin valve read sensor having synthetic antiferromagnetic pinned layers. An extremely thin (approximately 80 angstroms) MnPt pinning layer can be formed directly on the seed layer and extremely thin pinned and free layers can then subsequently be formed so that the sensors can be used to read recorded media with densities exceeding 60 Gb/in2. Moreover, the high pinning field and optimum magnetostriction produces an extremely robust sensor.
摘要:
A structure that is well suited to connecting an MTJ device to a CMOS integrated circuit is described. It is built out of three layers. The bottom layer serves as a seed layer for the center layer, which is alpha tantalum, while the third, topmost, layer is selected for its smoothness, its compatibility with the inter-layer dielectric materials, and its ability to protect the underlying tantalum. A method for its formation is also described.
摘要:
A method to fabricate an MTJ device and its connections to a CMOS integrated circuit is described. The device is built out of three layers. The bottom layer serves as a seed layer for the center layer, which is alpha tantalum, while the third, topmost, layer is selected for its smoothness, its compatibility with the inter-layer dielectric materials, and its ability to protect the underlying tantalum.
摘要:
A method to fabricate an MTJ device and its connections to a CMOS integrated circuit is described. The device is built out of three layers. The bottom layer serves as a seed layer for the center layer, which is alpha tantalum, while the third, topmost, layer is selected for its smoothness, its compatibility with the inter-layer dielectric materials, and its ability to protect the underlying tantalum.
摘要:
A structure that is well suited to connecting an MTJ device to a CMOS integrated circuit is described. It is built out of three layers. The bottom layer serves as a seed layer for the center layer, which is alpha tantalum, while the third, topmost, layer is selected for its smoothness, its compatibility with the inter-layer dielectric materials, and its ability to protect the underlying tantalum. A method for its formation is also described.
摘要:
By using a free layer that includes a NiFe layer containing between 65 and 72 atomic percent iron, an improved CPP GMR device has been created. The resulting structure yields a higher CPP GMR ratio than prior art devices, while maintaining free layer softness and acceptable magnetostriction. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.
摘要:
An MTJ in an MRAM array or TMR read head is disclosed in which a capping layer has a bilayer configuration with a non-magnetic NiFeX inner layer on a NiFe free layer and a Ta layer on the NiFeX layer to improve dR/R and minimize magnetostriction. Optionally, a trilayer configuration may be employed where the Ta layer is sandwiched between an inner NiFeX layer and an outer Ru layer. The X component in NiFeX is preferably an element having an oxidation potential greater than Ni or Fe such as Mg, Hf, Zr, Nb, or Ta. NiFeX is preferably formed by co-sputtering a NiFe target with an X target at a forward power of about 200 W and 50 W, respectively. In an MRAM structure, the Mg content in NiFeMg may be increased to >50 atomic % to improve the gettering power of removing oxygen from the free layer.
摘要:
A high performance MTJ in an MRAM array is disclosed in which the bottom conductor has an amorphous Ta capping layer. A key feature is a surfactant layer comprised of oxygen that is formed on the Ta surface. The resulting smooth and flat Ta capping layer promotes a smooth and flat surface in the MTJ layers which are subsequently formed on the surfactant layer. For a 0.3×0.6 micron MTJ bit size, a 35 to 40 Angstrom thick NiFe(18%) free layer, an AlOx barrier layer generated from a ROX oxidation of an 9 to 10 Angstrom thick Al layer, and a Ru/Ta/Ru capping layer are employed to give a dR/R of >40% and an RA of about 4000 ohm-μm2. The MTJ configuraton is extendable to a 0.2×0.4 micron MTJ bit size.
摘要:
An MTJ (magnetic tunneling junction) MRAM (magnetic random access memory) cell is formed on a conducting lead and magnetic keeper layer that is capped by a sputter-etched Ta layer. The Ta capping layer has a smooth surface as a result of the sputter-etching and that smooth surface promotes the subsequent formation of a lower electrode (pinning/pinned layer) with smooth, flat layers and a radical oxidized (ROX) Al tunneling barrier layer which is ultra-thin, smooth, and to has a high breakdown voltage. A seed layer of NiCr is formed on the sputter-etched capping layer of Ta. The resulting device has generally improved performance characteristics in terms of its switching characteristics, GMR ratio and junction resistance.