Ultrathin Co/Pt and Co/Pd superlattice films for MgO-based perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

Journal Article · Mon Dec 06 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3524230· OSTI ID:21518204

Yakushiji, K; Saruya, T; Kubota, H; Fukushima, A; Nagahama, T; Yuasa, S; Ando, K ^[1]

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1. Spintronics Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568 (Japan)

Ultrathin [Co/Pt]{sub n} and [Co/Pd]{sub n} superlattice films consisting of 0.14-0.20-nm-thick Co and Pt(Pd) layers were deposited by sputtering. A large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy [(3-9)x10{sup 6} ergs/cm{sup 3}] and an ideal square out-of-plane hysteresis loop were attained even for ultrathin superlattice films with a total thickness of 1.2-2.4 nm. The films were stable against annealing up to 370 deg. C. MgO-based perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions with this superlattice layer as the free layer showed a relatively high magnetoresistance ratio (62%) and an ultralow resistance-area product (3.9 {Omega} {mu}m{sup 2}) at room temperature. The use of these films will enable the development of gigabit-scale nonvolatile memory.

• OSTI ID: 21518204
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 97, Issue 23; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3524230; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANISOTROPY
ANNEALING
COBALT
HYSTERESIS
LAYERS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MAGNETORESISTANCE
PALLADIUM
PLATINUM
SPUTTERING
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
SUPERLATTICES
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
THICKNESS
THIN FILMS
TUNNEL EFFECT
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIMENSIONS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
FILMS
HEAT TREATMENTS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM METALS
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS