Patent ID: 7881025
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,H01L

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 magnetization direction changes depending on an external magnetic field, and said spacer layer comprises a first nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic metal layer, each formed of a nonmagnetic metal material, and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first nonmagnetic metal layer and the second nonmagnetic metal layer, and further comprises a work function control layer formed between said first nonmagnetic metal layer and said semiconductor layer and/or between said second nonmagnetic metal layer and said semiconductor layer, wherein: said semiconductor layer is an n-type semiconductor, and said work function control layer is made of a material having a work function smaller than that of said first nonmagnetic metal layer, and said second nonmagnetic metal layer.