Patent ID: 7885042
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A giant magneto-resistive effect device (CPP-GMR device) having a CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure comprising a spacer layer, and a fixed magnetization layer and a free layer stacked one upon another with said spacer layer interposed between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, characterized in that: said free layer functions such that a direction of magnetization changes depending on an external magnetic field, and said spacer layer comprises a first nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic metal layer, each made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and a semiconductor layer formed between said first nonmagnetic metal layer and said second nonmagnetic metal layer, wherein: said semiconductor layer is an n-type oxide semiconductor, when said first and second nonmagnetic metal layers are formed in order, said first nonmagnetic metal layer is formed prior to said second nonmagnetic metal layer, and an anti-oxidizing layer is formed between said first non-magnetic metal layer and said semiconductor layer, and said anti-oxidizing layer is formed of a material incapable of producing a Schottky barrier upon joining to said semiconductor layer.