Patent ID: 7264974

Claim:
A method for forming a tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) read head with a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) configuration, wherein said read head has an ultra-thin tunneling barrier layer with ultra-low resistance and high breakdown voltage, comprising: providing a substrate; forming on said substrate a lower electrode of magnetic material, said lower electrode having an upper surface; forming an oxygen surfactant layer on said upper surface of said lower electrode; forming a tunneling barrier layer on said upper surface of said lower electrode, said formation further comprising: forming a material layer on said surfactant layer, an interfacial portion of said material layer combining with oxygen within said surfactant layer and said oxygen forming within said interfacial portion an oxide with a uniform and stable stoichiometry thereby; oxidizing said material layer fully by a process of natural oxidation to form, thereby, a tunneling barrier layer; forming an upper electrode on said tunneling barrier layer; forming a capping layer on said upper electrode.