Patent ID: 11165013

Abstract:
The disclosed technology generally relates to magnetic devices and more particularly to magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices in which switching can be mediated by spin-orbit torque, and further relates to a method of fabricating such devices. In an aspect, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes a spin-orbit torque (SOT) mediating layer, a hard-mask layer used to define a shape of the SOT layer, a magnetic tunnel junction arranged between the SOT layer and the hard-mask layer. The MTJ includes at least a free layer and a reference layer separated by a non-magnetic barrier layer. The device further includes at least two electrical accesses arranged to contact the SOT layer to pass a write current therethrough. To provide field-free switching of the free layer, the device further includes a ferromagnetic element as at least one of a ferromagnetic sublayer of the hard-mask and a material in the electrical accesses.