Patent ID: 8119424

Claim:
A process of manufacturing an electronic device comprising: forming a first conductive layer over a substrate; forming a magneto-resistive random access memory cell stack over the first conductive layer, wherein forming the magneto-resistive random access memory cell stack includes: forming a first magnetic layer in electrical contact with the first conductive layer; forming a tunnel barrier layer over the first magnetic layer; forming a second magnetic layer over the tunnel barrier layer; and forming a second conductive layer in electrical contact with the second magnetic layer; etching a portion of the second magnetic layer to expose a portion of the tunnel barrier layer, forming a metal layer over the exposed portion of the tunnel barrier layer; and forming an insulating layer on the metal layer wherein the tunnel barrier and the insulating layer are separated by the metal layer, wherein, during or subsequent to forming the insulating layer, at least a portion of the metal layer disposed on the exposed portion of the tunnel barrier layer is converted into an insulating material.