Patent ID: 6993827

Claim:
A method for forming a spin filter bottom spin valve (BSV) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor having a composite high-conductance layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SyAF) pinned layer and an ultra-thin ferromagnetic free layer comprising: providing a substrate; forming on the substrate a bottom spin valve stack, said formation further comprising: forming a buffer layer; forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer on said buffer layer; forming the synthetic antiferromagnetic (SyAF) pinned layer on said pinning layer; forming a non-magnetic spacer layer on said synthetic antiferromagnetic (SyAF) pinned layer; forming an oxygen surfactant layer on said spacer layer; forming a free layer as a single layer of CoFe on said oxygen surfactant layer; forming a composite high-conductance layer (HCL) on said free layer; forming a capping layer on said composite high-conductance layer (HCL); and magnetizing said pinned layer in a direction transverse to an air bearing surface plane of said sensor.