Patent ID: 7829923

Claim:
A method of fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device, the method comprising: applying a first dielectric layer to a surface; applying a first cap layer to the first dielectric layer; removing a first portion of the first cap layer; removing a second portion of the first dielectric layer corresponding to the first portion; applying a first metal layer to the removed first portion of the first cap layer and the removed second portion of the first dielectric layer to form a metal wire, wherein the first cap layer contacts a side portion of the metal wire; forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack such that a bottom electrode of the MTJ stack is disposed on the metal wire; adding a second cap layer on the MTJ stack including a MTJ stack sidewall; adding a second dielectric layer on the second cap layer; opening a portion of the second dielectric layer and the second cap layer to reach a top of the MTJ stack; depositing a conductive material into the opened portion of the second dielectric layer and of the second cap layer to form a top electrode on the top of the MTJ stack; patterning the top electrode, the second dielectric layer, and the bottom electrode of the MTJ stack such that the second cap layer remains on the MTJ stack sidewall and a remaining portion of the second dielectric layer remains on the second cap layer; depositing a third cap layer on the patterned top electrode, on the remaining portion of the second dielectric layer, and on the first cap layer; depositing a third dielectric layer on the third cap layer; and adding a top electrical via and a top metal layer to the patterned top electrode.