Patent ID: 7536772

Claim:
A method for forming bottom spin valve (BSV) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor of the spin filter spin-valve (SFSV) type having first and second high-conductance layers, wherein said first high conductance layer is embedded in a composite free layer, and also included is a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SyAF) pinned layer, the method 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 antiferromagnetic pinning layer; forming a non-magnetic spacer layer on said SyAF pinned layer; forming an oxygen surfactant layer on said spacer layer; forming the composite free layer on said oxygen surfactant layer wherein said composite free layer includes said first high-conductance layer (HCL) formed of Cu; forming said second high-conductance layer (HCL) on said composite free layer, said second HCL being formed of Ru; forming a capping layer on said second HCL; and magnetizing said SyAF pinned layer in a direction transverse to an air bearing surface plane of said sensor.