Patent ID: 8029853
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A fabrication process for a giant magnetoresistive device (CPP-GMR device) of CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a spacer layer comprising a first nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic layer, each one formed of a nonmagnetic metal material, with a zinc oxide or ZnO layer interposed between said first and second nonmagnetic metal layers, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed with said spacer layer sandwiched between them, with a sense current applied in the stacking direction, wherein said fabrication process comprises: a first nonmagnetic metal layer formation step for forming said first ferromagnetic layer; a step of forming said first nonmagnetic metal layer on said first ferromagnetic layer; a step of forming said zinc oxide or ZnO layer on said first nonmagnetic metal layer; a step of forming said second nonmagnetic metal layer on said zinc oxide layer; and a step of forming said second ferromagnetic layer on said second nonmagnetic metal layer; wherein: the step of forming said zinc oxide layer comprises a Zn film formation operation for forming a zinc or Zn film and a Zn film oxidation operation for oxidizing said Zn film after the Zn film formation operation, wherein: said Zn film formation operation is implemented such that a multilayer substrate having a multilayer structure before formation of the Zn film is cooled down, wherein the multilayer substrate temperature during said Zn film formation is −140 C to −60 C, and said Zn film oxidization operation is implemented such that the multilayer substrate temperature during said Zn film oxidation is −120 C to −40 C.