Physics – Condensed Matter – Materials Science
Scientific paper
2010-08-09
Physics
Condensed Matter
Materials Science
5 pages, 4 figues, submitted to J. Appl. Phys
Scientific paper
Surface oxidation of the bottom ferromagnetic (FM) electrode, one of the major detrimental factors to the performance of a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ), is difficult to avoid during the fabrication process of the MTJ's tunnel barrier. Since Co rich alloys are commonly used for the FM electrodes in MTJs, over-oxidation of the tunnel barrier results in the formation of a CoO antiferromagnetic (AF) interface layer which couples with the bottom FM electrode to form a typical AF/FM exchange bias (EB) system. In this work, surface oxidation of the CoFe and CoFeB bottom electrodes was detected via magnetometry measurements of exchange-bias characterizations including the EB field, training effect, uncompensated spin density, and coercivity. Variations of these parameters were found to be related to the surface oxidation of the bottom electrode, among them the change of coercivity is most sensitive. Annealed samples show evidence for an oxygen migration back to the MgO tunnel barrier by annealing.
Chen Wei
Lu Jiwei
Nam Dao N. H.
Wolf Stuart A.
No associations
LandOfFree
Detection of bottom ferromagnetic electrode oxidation in magnetic tunnel junctions by magnetometry measurements does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Detection of bottom ferromagnetic electrode oxidation in magnetic tunnel junctions by magnetometry measurements, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detection of bottom ferromagnetic electrode oxidation in magnetic tunnel junctions by magnetometry measurements will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-83682