• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.162-165
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• 2007

We investigated the effects of the capping layer materials on the crystallization of the amorphous top-CoFeB (t-CoFeB) electrode and the magnetoresistance properties of the magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). When the hcp(002)-textured Ru capping layer was used, the amorphous t-CoFeB was crystallized to bcc-CoFe(110). The CoFe(110)/Ru(002) texture relation can be minimized the lattice mismatch down to 5.6%. However, when the fine polycrystalline but almost amorphous TiAl or amorphous ZrAl were used, the amorphous t-CoFeB was crystallized to bcc-CoFe(002). When the amorphous capping materials were used, the evolution of the t-CoFeB texture was affected mainly by the MgO(001) texture. Consequently, the M ratios of the annealed MTJ capped with the ZrAl and TiAl (72.7 and 71.8%) are relatively higher than that of the MTJ with Ru capping layer (46.7%). In conclusions, the texture evolution of the amorphous t-CoFeB during the post deposition annealing could be controlled by the crystallinity of the adjacent capping layer and in turn, it affects the TMR ratio of MTJs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.42-43
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• 2001

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.311-314
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• 2005

We investigated the composition dependence of the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) behavior and the stability of the magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with TiAlOx barrier and the microstructural evolution of TiAl alloy films. The TMR ratio increased up to $49\%$ at $5.33\;at\%$ Ti. In addition, a significant tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) value of $20\%$ was maintained after annealing at $450^{\circ}C$, and the breakdown voltage ($V_B$) of and 1.35 V were obtained in the MTJ with $5.33\;at\%$ Ti-alloyed AlOx barrier. These results were closely related to the enhanced quality of the barrier material microstructure in the pre-oxidation state. Ti alloying enhanced the barrier/electrode interface uniformity and reduced microstructural defects. These structural improvements enhanced not only the TMR effect but also the thermal and electrical stability of the MTJs.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3-8
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• 2001

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.201-205
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• 2016

In this report, we measured the impedance spectrum in TMR device, and the relaxation behavior of the real and imaginary impedance spectrum was analyzed by using the equilibrant circuit of tunneling capacitance ($C_T$) and tunneling resistance ($R_T$). The relaxation frequency was increased with AC voltage in both the parallel and antiparallel alignment of two magnetic layers. The $R_T$ with AC voltage showed the typical bias voltage dependence. However, the $C_T$ showed large value than the expected geometrical capacitance. The huge increase of $C_T$ was affecting as a limiting factor for the high speed operation of TMR devices. Thus, the supercapacitance of $C_T$ should be considered to design the high speed TMR devices.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.118-122
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• 2000

MR characteristics of $Al_2$ $O_3$ based magnetic tunneling juction with various $Al_2$ $O_3$ thicknesses were investigated. Spin-dependent tunneling junctions, in which the tunneling barrier $Al_2$ $O_3$ is formed by depositing a 1-3 nm thick Al layer, followed by thermal oxidation at room temperature in an $O_2$atmosphere, were fabricated on 4$^{\circ}$tilt(111)Si substrate in 3-gun magnetron sputtering system. The top and bottom ferromagnetic electrodes were Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$ and Co. A maximum Tunneling MR ratio of 14% was obtained in the junction of which insulating barrier thickness was 2 nm. By increasing the tunneling voltage across the junction, maximum MR ratio reduced and finally showed no MR characteristics.s.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.116-117
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• 1999

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2004

We have investigated the effect of Hf insertion in the Al oxide tunnel barrier on the properties of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). MTJs with Hf inserted barrier show the higher tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio and less temperature and bias voltage dependence of TMR than MTJs with a conventional Al$_2$O$_3$ barrier. The enhancement of TMR ratio and the reduction of the temperature and bias voltage dependence might be due to the reduction of defects in the barrier. Al-Hf oxide was formed by depositing Al and Hf simultaneously, and oxidizing the compound films. The TMR ratio of 36% was almost the same value as that with Hf inserted barrier. This implies that the inserted Hf layers mixed with Al layers during deposition or oxidation, and they might form Al Hf oxide barriers. This compound Al Hf oxide formation may be responsible to reduction of defect concentration which enhanced the TMR ratio and reduced temperature and bias-voltage dependence.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.186-191
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• 2006

Ferromagnetic amorphous $Ni_{16}Fe_{62}Si_8B_{14}$ and $Co_{70.5}Fe_{4.5}Si_{15}B_{10}$ layers have been devised and incorporated as free layers of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) to improve MRAM reading and writing performance. The NiFeSiB and CoFeSiB single-layer film exhibited a lower saturation magnetization ($Ms=800emu/cm^3,\;and\;560emu/cm^3$, respectively) compared to that of a $Co_{90}Fe_{10}(Ms=1400emu/cm^3)$. Because amorphous ferromagnetic materials have lower Ms than crystalline ones, the MTJs incorporating amorphous ferromagnetic materials offer lower switching field ($H_{sw}$) values than that of the traditional CoFe-based MTJ. The double-barrier MTJ with an amorphous NiFeSiB free layer offered smooth surface resulting in low bias voltage dependence, and high $V_h\;and\;V_{bd}$ compared with the values of the traditional CoFe-based MTJ.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.201-205
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• 2002

The tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) of a ramp-edge type junction has been studied. The samples with a structure of NiO(60)/Co(10)/NiO(60)/Si$_3$N$_4$(2-6)/NiFe(10) (nm) were prepared by the sputtering and etched by the electron cyclotron (ECR) argon ion milling. Nonlinear I-V characteristics was obtained from a ramp-type tunneling junctions having the dominant difference between zero and ＋90 Oe perpendicular to the junction edge line. The voltage dependence of TMR was stable up to a bias volt of $\pm$10 V with a TMR ratio of about -10%, which may be very peculiar magnetic tunneling properties with asymmetric tunneling process between wedge Co pinned layer and NiFe free layer.