Patent ID: 9502056
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: G01R,G11B,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A magnetoresistance element comprising: a stack having at least one sidewall; and at least one insulating layer in contact with the at least one sidewall, wherein the stack includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a tunnel barrier layer located between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, the tunnel barrier layer has at least one end face located in the at least one sidewall of the stack, the at least one insulating layer includes: an island-like structure section in contact with only a part of the at least one sidewall; and a coating section covering the island-like structure section and the at least one sidewall, the tunnel barrier layer contains a first oxide, the island-like structure section contains a second oxide, the coating section contains a third oxide, and G2−G1 is greater than 0 (kJ/mol)) and smaller than or equal to 435 (kJ/mol), G2−G3 is greater than 0 (kJ/mol) and smaller than or equal to 435 (kJ/mol), and G3−G1 is smaller than or equal to 435 (kJ/mol), where G1 (kJ/mol), G2 (kJ/mol) and G3 (kJ/mol) represent standard Gibbs energies of formation at 280° C. of the first oxide, the second oxide and the third oxide, respectively.