文章基本信息

标题：Ultrathin W space layer-enabled thermal stability enhancement in a perpendicular MgO/CoFeB/W/CoFeB/MgO recording frame
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作者：Jae-Hong Kim ; Ja-Bin Lee ; Gwang-Guk An 等
期刊名称：Scientific Reports
电子版ISSN：2045-2322
出版年度：2015
卷号：5
期号：1
DOI：10.1038/srep16903
语种：English
出版社：Springer Nature
摘要：Perpendicularly magnetized tunnel junctions (p-MTJs) show promise as reliable candidates for next-generation memory due to their outstanding features. However, several key challenges remain that affect CoFeB/MgO-based p-MTJ performance. One significant issue is the low thermal stability (Δ) due to the rapid perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) degradation during annealing at temperatures greater than 300 °C. Thus, the ability to provide thermally robust PMA characteristics is a key steps towards extending the use of these materials. Here, we examine the influence of a W spacer on double MgO/CoFeB/W/CoFeB/MgO frames as a generic alternative layer to ensure thermally-robust PMAs at temperatures up to 425 °C. The thickness-dependent magnetic features of the W layer were evaluated at various annealing temperatures to confirm the presence of strong ferromagnetic interlayer coupling at an optimized 0.55 nm W spacer thickness. Using this W layer we achieved a higher Δ of 78 for an approximately circular 20 nm diameter free layer device.