Patent ID: 8653614

Claim:
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; and a magnetroresistive effect element on the semiconductor substrate, the magnetroresistive effect element comprising: a first metal magnetic film comprising a nonmagnetic element, the first metal magnetic film having an axis of easy magnetization perpendicular to a film plane; a first insulating film on the first metal magnetic film; a first intermediate magnetic film between the first metal magnetic film and the first insulating film; a second metal magnetic film on the first insulating film, the second metal magnetic film comprising the nonmagnetic element, and the second metal magnetic film having an axis of easy magnetization perpendicular to a film plane; a second intermediate magnetic film between the first insulating film and the second metal magnetic film; and a diffusion preventing film between either the first metal magnetic film and the first intermediate magnetic film or between the second intermediate magnetic film and the second metal magnetic film, the diffusion preventing film comprising metal nitride or metal carbide having a barrier property against diffusion of the nonmagnetic element; wherein the nonmagnetic element is Pt, or Pd.