Patent · US Expired

Magnetic tunnel junction element structures and methods for fabricating the same

US7098495B2 · kind B2 · utility

76Cited by
10References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 2004
Grant dateAug 29, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 19, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01F10/3254
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Magnetic tunnel junction (“MTJ”) element structures and methods for fabricating MTJ element structures are provided. An MTJ element structure may comprise a crystalline pinned layer, an amorphous fixed layer, and a coupling layer disposed between the crystalline pinned layer and the amorphous fixed layer. The amorphous fixed layer is antiferromagnetically coupled to the crystalline pinned layer. The MTJ element further comprises a free layer and a tunnel barrier layer disposed between the amorphous fixed layer and the free layer.Another MTJ element structure may comprise a pinned layer, a fixed layer and a non-magnetic coupling layer disposed therebetween. A tunnel barrier layer is disposed between the fixed layer and a free layer. An interface layer is disposed adjacent the tunnel barrier layer and a layer of amorphous material. The first interface layer comprises a material having a spin polarization that is higher than that of the amorphous material.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.