Patent ID: 8492859

Claim:
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), comprising: first and second magnetic layers; a tunnel barrier located between the first and second magnetic layers; a first spacer layer located between the first magnetic layer and the tunnel barrier, the first spacer layer comprising a non-magnetic material comprising one of titanium nitride (TiN), vanadium (V), tantalum nitride (TaN), and aluminum (Al); and a first interfacial layer located directly adjacent to the first spacer layer and the tunnel barrier; wherein the first spacer layer is configured to prevent diffusion of tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) degrading substances, including at least one of Cr, Ti, Pd, or Pt, from the first magnetic layer to the tunnel barrier; wherein the first spacer layer has a thickness of 20 angstroms or less and comprises first and second non-magnetic layers comprising the non-magnetic material, and a spacer magnetic layer, the spacer magnetic layer being located between and directly adjacent to each of the first and second non-magnetic layers, wherein the first non-magnetic layer is located directly adjacent to the first interfacial layer, and wherein the second non-magnetic layer is located directly adjacent to the first magnetic layer.