Patent ID: 7148072

Claim:
A method for oxidizing conductive redeposition in tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) structure, comprising: forming a TMR stack comprising a first electrode comprising at least a pinned layer and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a second electrode comprising a free layer and a tunnel barrier layer; etching at least one of the first electrode comprising at least the pinned layer and the antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, the second electrode comprising the free layer and the tunnel barrier using a primarily physical etch process, wherein the etching redeposits etching particulates on at least a portion of the at least one of the layers; and applying at an elevated temperature an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of ozone and water vapor to oxidize only at least one of the redeposited etching particulates and a portion the tunnel barrier layer damaged during the etching.