Patent ID: 7270896
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,G11C,H01F,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A structure, comprising: at least one tunnel barrier selected from the group of tunnel barriers consisting of MgO and Mg—ZnO, wherein the tunnel barrier is crystalline and oriented in the (100) direction; an amorphous magnetic layer that includes Co and at least one additional element selected to make the layer amorphous, wherein the amorphous layer is in proximity with the tunnel barrier, thereby permitting spin-polarized current to pass between the tunnel barrier and the magnetic layer; and a ferromagnetic layer in proximity with the tunnel barrier, wherein the ferromagnetic layer, the amorphous magnetic layer, and the tunnel barrier form a magnetic tunnel junction, and wherein the structure is sufficiently well textured, the structure is sufficiently free of defects, and the amount of any oxide separating the tunnel barrier from the magnetic layers is sufficiently low, that the magnetic tunnel junction has a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) of greater than 100% at room temperature.