• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.95-98
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• 2007

In this paper, the magnetic properties and the annealing behavior of spin valve structures with Mo(MoN) underlayers were studied for various underlayer thickness. The spin valve structure was Si substrate/Mo(MoN)$(t{\AA})/NiFe(21{\AA})/CoFe(28{\AA})/Cu(22{\AA})/CoFe(18{\AA})/IrMn(65{\AA})/Ta(25 {\AA})$. Mo and MoN films were deposited on Si substrates and their thermal annealing behavior was analyzed. The deposition rate of the MoN thin film was decreased and tile resistivity of the MoN thin films were increased as the $N_2$ gas flow was increased. The variations of MR ratio and magnetic exchange coupling field of spin valve structure were smaller with MoN underlayers than that with Mo underlayers up to thickness of $51{\AA}$. MR ratio of spin valves with Mo underlayers was 2.86% at room temperature and increased up to 2.91 % after annealing at $200^{\circ}C$. Upon annealing at $300^{\circ}C$, the MR ratio decreased about 2.16%. The MR ratio of spin valves structure with MoN underlayers for $N_2$ gas flow 1 sccm was 5.27% at room temperature and increased up to 5.56% after annealing at $200^{\circ}C$. Upon annealing at $300^{\circ}C$, the MR ratio decreased about 4.9%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.55-58
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• 2003

FeMn based spin valves often consist of a NiFe/FeMn/NiFe trilayer structure. We have investigated the evolution of exchange bias at the bottom and top interfaces in the NiFe(5nm)/FeMn(x)/NiFe(5nm) trilayer structure as a function of FeMn thickness in the range 3 nm to 30 nm. The XRD results indicate (111) textured growth for NiFe and FeMn layers. The magnetization studies using VSM show two hysteresis loops corresponding to the bottom NiFe seed layer and top NiFe layers with greater bias for the bottom NiFe layer, for FeMn thickness equal to and above 5 nm. The larger exchange bias for the bottom seed layer is confirmed by the surface sensitive MOKE hysteresis loop measurements which show gradual weakening of the MOKE hysteresis loop for the bottom NiFe layer with increasing FeMn thickness. The observed large exchange bias in a spin valve structure is usually attributed to the pinning NiFe layer on top of the FeMn layer, even when a NiFe seed layer of a few nm thickness is present, whereas, in reality it may be arising from the bottom seed layer, as shown by the present study.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.226-230
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• 2005

In this research, magnetic properties and annealing effects of the spin valve structures were investigated, which have Ta underlayer deposited with Ar and $N_2$ gas mixture. Also, TaN underlayer as a diffusion barrier and the substrate were investigated. The structure of the spin valve was Si($SiO_2$)/Ta(TaN)/NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe/FeMn/Ta. Deposition rate was decreased and resistivity and roughness of the TaN films were increased as the $N_2$ gas flow was increased. The XRD results after high temperature annealing showed that Silicides were created in Si/Ta layer, but not in Si/TaN layer. Magnetoresistance ratio (MR) and exchange coupling field ($H_{ex}$) were decreased when the $N_2$ gas flow was increased over 4.0 sccm. The MR of the spin valves with Ta and TaN films deposited with up to 4.0 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow was increased about $0.5\%$ until the annealing temperature of up to $200^{\circ}C$ and then, decreased. TaN film deposited with 8.0 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow showed twice the adhesion of the Ta film. The above results indicate that with 3.0 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow during the Ta underlayer deposition, the magnetic properties of the spin valves are maintained, while the underlayer may be used as a diffusion barrier and the adhesion between the Si substrate and the underlayer is increased.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.240-244
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• 2006

In this paper, magnetic properties and annealing behavior of spin valve structures using Mo(MoN) layers as underlayers were studied varying the thickness of the underlayers. The spin valve structure was consisted of Si substrate/$SiO_2(2,000{\AA})/Mo(MoN)(t{\AA})/NiFe(21\;{\AA})/CoFe(28\;{\AA})/Cu(22\;{\AA})/CoFe(18\;{\AA})/IrMn(65\;{\AA})/Ta(25\;{\AA})$. Also, MoN films were deposited on Si substrates and their thermal annealing behavior was analyzed. The resistivity of the MoN film increased as the $N_2$ gas flow rate was increased. After annealing at $600^{\circ}C$, XRD results did not show peaks of silicides. XPS results indicated MoN film deposited with 5 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow rate was more stable than the film deposited with 1 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow rate. The variations of MR ratio and magnetic exchange coupling fold were small for the spin valve structures using Mo(MoN) underlayers up to thickness of45 ${\AA}$. MR ratio of spin valves using MoN underlayers deposited with various $N_2$ gas flow rate was about 7.0% at RT and increased to about 7.5% after annealing at $220^{\circ}C$. Upon annealing at $300^{\circ}C$, the MR ratio decreased to about 3.5%. Variation of $N_2$ gas flow rate up to 5 sccm did not change the MR ratio and $H_{ex}$ appreciably.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.211-216
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• 2001

Top synthetic spin valves wi th structure Ta/NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe(Pl)/Ru/CoFe(P2)/FeMn/Ta on Si (100) substrate with SiO$_2$ of 1500 were prepared by dc magnetron sputtering system. We have changed only the thickness of the free layer and the thickness difference (Pl-P2) in the two ferromagnetic layers separated by Ru, and investigated the effect of magnetic film thickness on the GMR properties and the interlayer coupling field in a spin valve with a synthetic antiferromagnet. As thickness difference of pinned layer was decreased from +25 to -25 , MR ratio was decreased gradually. However, there was a dip zone indicating a big change of MR ratio around Pl = P2, which can be due to the large canting of pinned layers. The modified Neel model was suggested for the top synthetic spin valve to explain the interlayer coupling field according to the thickness change of ferromagnetic layers. The interlayer coupling field was decreased due to the magnetostatic coupling (orange peel coupling) as suggested by model. However, the interlayer coupling field was not explained at the dip zone by the modified Neel model. The deviation of modified Neel model at the dip zone could be due to the largely canting of the pinned layers as well, which depends on different thickness in synthetic antiferromagnetic structure.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.236-239
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• 2004

We studied the specular spin valve (SSV) having the spin filter layer (SFL) in contact with the ultrathin free layer composed of Ta3/NiFe2/IrMn7/CoFel/(NOLl)/CoFe2/Cu1.8/CoFe( $t_{F}$)/Cu( $t_{SF}$ )/(NOL2)/Ta3.5 (in nm) by the magnetron sputtering system. For this antiferromagnetic I $r_{22}$M $n_{78}$-pinned spin filter specular spin valve (SFSSV) films, an optimal magnetoresistance (MR) ratio of 11.9% was obtained when both the free layer thickness ( $t_{F}$) and the SFL thickness ( $t_{SF}$ ) were 1.5 nm, and the MR ratio higher than 11% was maintained even when the $t_{F}$ was reduced to 1.0 nm. It was due to increase of specular electron by the nano-oxide layer (NOL) and of current shunting through the SFL. Moreover, the interlayer coupling field ( $H_{int}$) between free layer and pinned layer could be explained by considering the RKKY and magnetostatic coupling. The coercivity of the free layer ( $H_{cf}$ ) was significantly reduced as compared to the traditional spin valve (TSV), and was remained as low as 4 Oe when the $t_{F}$ varied from 1 nm to 4 urn. It was found that the SFL made it possible to reduce the free layer thickness and enhance the MR ratio without degrading the soft magnetic property of the free layer.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.118-123
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• 2007

We have studied the effect of Au-Cu back layer system ${\sim}10{\AA}$ thick on the properties of a spin valve. The back layers were Cu, Au, co-sputtered $Cu_xAu_{1-x}$, laminated $[Au/Cu]_n$. and bi-layer [Au/Cu]. When Au was added to the Cu, the resistance of the spin valve abruptly increased most likely due to impurity scattering. The GMR values were not increased significantly for all the structures. In the case of co-sputtered $Cu_xAu_{1-x}$, the changes in the resistance, ${\Delta}R$, was increased at a composition of ${\sim}Au_{0.5}Cu_{0.5}$. This increase in ${\Delta}R$ is due to increase in the resistance and not from the enhanced spin-dependent scattering. The structural analyses showed that the orthorhombic $Au_{0.5}Cu_{0.5}$ was formed in the back layer instead of the face-centered tetragonal $Au_{0.5}Cu_{0.5}$ as we expected. Thermal annealing over $400^{\circ}C$ may be required to have face-centered tetragonal in the $10{\AA}$ thick ultra-thin film. In the case of a laminated or bi-layered back layer, the properties of the spin valve were improved, which may be attributed to the increase in the mean free path of conduction electrons.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.71.2-71.2
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2002.12a
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• pp.52-53
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• 2002

스핀밸브 구조는 현재 고기록밀도 자기저장 분야에서 그 응용범위가 넓다. 이런 고기록밀도를 달성하기 위해서는 자기저항곡선의 비대칭성 문제가 중요하다. 그러므로 비대칭성 문제를 해결하여 센서의 민감도를 높이기 위해서는 고정층에서 나오는 정자기장을 제어하는 것이 필요하다. 이런 문제를 해결하기 위해 IBM에서 최초로 합성형 스핀밸브 구조가 도입하였다 [1]. 이런 합성형 스핀밸브는 기존의 스핀밸브에 비해 열적으로나 또는 자기적으로 매우 안정한 장점을 가지고 있다. (중략)