Patent ID: 9589619
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: G11C,H01L

Claim:
1. A method for writing data to a three-terminal spin-orbit-torque magnetoresistive memory having a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) including a free layer located between an oxide barrier layer and a substantially planar spin hall-effect material, comprising: applying a first voltage across the MTJ to reduce a magnetic anisotropy of the free layer by inducing an electric field across the oxide barrier layer and reducing energy barrier for switching the free layer magnetization; and applying a second voltage across the substantially planar spin hall-effect material while the first voltage is applied across the MTJ to cause a current to flow through the substantially planar spin hall-effect material and thereby apply a spin-orbit torque to the free layer, thus causing the free layer to switch between a parallel state and an antiparallel state through spin accumulation on a surface of the substantially planar spin hall-effect material.