Patent ID: 8564079

Claim:
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device for a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device, comprising: a substrate having a first metal interconnect; a first dielectric passivation barrier layer formed on the substrate, the first dielectric passivation barrier layer having a first contact via opening formed with a first mask pattern to expose the first metal interconnect; a first electrode layer formed on the first dielectric passivation barrier layer and extending through the first contact via opening, the first electrode layer in communication with the first metal interconnect; a fixed magnetization layer formed on the first electrode layer; a tunnel barrier layer formed on the fixed magnetization layer; a free magnetization layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer; a second electrode layer formed on the free magnetization layer, at least the second electrode layer and the free magnetization layer having a shape based upon a second mask pattern and being located over the first contact via opening; and a second dielectric passivation barrier layer formed on the fixed magnetization layer and around the tunnel barrier layer, the free magnetization layer and the second electrode layer, the second dielectric passivation barrier layer only partially covering the second electrode layer, the second dielectric passivation barrier layer and at least a first portion of the fixed magnetization layer having a shape based upon a third mask pattern.