具有纳米氧化层的磁性隧道结的热稳定性研究

研究发现在磁隧道结的反铁磁层和被钉扎铁磁层之间插入一层纳米氧化层，可以使磁隧道结的退火温度增加了40℃，即明显地提高了磁隧道结的温度稳定性.通过卢瑟福背散射实验直接观察到产生这一效应的原因是该纳米氧化层有效地抑制了Mn元素在退火过程中的扩散，从而使TMR值在较高的退火温度下得以保持. 关键词： 磁性隧道结 隧穿磁电阻 热稳定性 纳米氧化层     

退火对IrMn基磁隧道结多层膜热稳定性的影响

采用磁控溅射方法制备了结构为IrMn/CoFe/AlO_x/CoFe的磁性隧道结多层膜,样品置于真空磁场中进行退火处理. 将在不同温度退火的磁隧道结结构多层膜置于负饱和场中等待,研究退火温度对样品热稳定性的影响. 结果表明:退火提高了多层膜反铁磁层的单轴各向异性能,增加了样品的交换偏置;随着负饱和场等待时间的延长,被钉扎层的磁滞回线向正场偏移,交换偏置单调减小,但退火减弱了这种趋势. 关键词： 磁隧道结 交换偏置 磁化反转     

自旋电子学材料、物理和器件设计原理的研究进展

文章介绍了作者所在实验室在巨磁电阻(GMR)、隧穿磁电阻(TMR)、庞磁电阻(CMR)和反铁磁钉扎薄膜材料以及单晶金属氧化物、高自旋极化率材料、P-N异质结和纳米环磁随机存储器原理型演示器件设计等研究方面取得的一些重要研究成果和进展.例如:在Al-O势垒磁性隧道结材料体系里,获得室温磁电阻超过80%的国际最好结果;获得两种高性能层状反铁磁钉扎材料体系;发现具有大的电致电阻效应的CMR薄膜材料,并可期望用于电流直接进行磁信息写和读操作的磁存储介质;发现双势垒磁性隧道结中的量子阱态共振隧穿和磁电阻振荡效应,以及纳米器件体系中自旋翻转长度的观测新方法,可用于新型自旋电子学材料及相关器件的人工辅助设计;利用电子自旋共振谱探测和研究了金属氧化物的微观自旋结构和各向异性;在[CoFe/Pt]n磁性金属多层膜中,观测到超高灵敏度的反常霍尔效应;利用纳米环状磁性隧道结作为存储单元,研制出一种新型纳米环磁随机存储器MRAM原理型演示器件.     

Co基磁性隧道结势垒结构的电子全息研究

利用高分辨电子显微术和电子全息方法研究了Co基磁性隧道结退火热处理前后的微观结构及相应势垒层结构的变化. 研究结果表明，退火处理可以明显地改善势垒层和顶电极、底电极之间的界面质量，改进势垒层本身的结构. 这与该磁性隧道结经过280℃退火处理后，隧道磁电阻值大大增加是一致的. 关键词： 磁性隧道结 隧道磁电阻 高分辨电子显微学 电子全息     

利用金属掩模法制备钉扎型磁性隧道结

利用金属掩模法和Ir22Mn78合金反铁磁钉扎层，制备了四种钉扎型的Py/Al2O3/Py，Py/Al2O3/Co，Co/Al2O3/Py和Co/Al2O3/Co磁性隧道结，坡莫合金的成分为Py＝Ni79Fe21.例如：利用狭缝宽度为100?μm的金属掩模，直接制备出室温隧穿磁电阻比值为17.2%的磁性隧道结Co/Al2O3/Co，其结电阻为76Ω,结电阻和结面积的积矢为76×10_{4Ωμm2，自由层的偏转场为1114?A/m，并且在外加磁场0.1114A·m-1之间时室温磁电阻比值 关键词： 磁性隧道结 隧穿磁电阻 磁随机存储器 金属掩模}     

反铁磁Cr插入层对CoFe/MgO/CoFe磁性隧道结的隧穿磁电阻的影响

利用基于密度泛函理论和非平衡态格林函数的第一性原理计算研究了CoFe/MgO/CoFe磁性隧道结的隧穿磁电阻效应.给出了该隧道结隧穿磁电阻与偏压的依赖关系,并计算了平行结构与反平行结构相应的I-V特性曲线和传输谱.通过在一侧电极与势垒层之间插入反铁磁金属Cr层,观察到了隧穿磁电阻、电导随插入层Cr层数增加发生衰减和2个原子层周期的振荡现象,这主要是由于Cr拥有反铁磁结构,在Cr/MgO界面形成了与Cr磁矩取向相关的界面散射.     

退火对FeMn钉扎自旋阀性质的影响

通过对退火后FeMn钉扎自旋阀磁性的研究表明,真空退火对自旋阀的性质有影响.低于200℃的退火能有效的提高钉扎场;退火温度高于200℃时,自旋阀的钉扎场要下降,其他性能也恶化;在300℃时,钉扎场降为零,giantmagnetoresistance(GMR)现象消失.俄歇电子能谱仪(AES)的结果表明,在自旋阀多层膜中存在着晶界扩散 关键词： 真空退火 自旋阀 晶界扩散     

外应力场下铁磁/反铁磁双层膜系统中的交换偏置

采用自由能极小的方法研究了铁磁/反铁磁双层膜系统在外应力场下的交换各向异性.本模型中铁磁层具有单轴磁晶各向异性和立方磁晶各向异性，而反铁磁层仅具有单轴磁晶各向异性，但其厚度趋于半无穷.理论上解析地给出了系统的等效交换偏置和钉扎角(它显示了反铁磁层对铁磁层磁化的钉扎作用)与外应力场之间的关系.数值计算表明：系统的等效交换偏置与外磁场的方向有关，而与其大小无关；然而外应力场的大小和方向均对系统的等效交换偏置有影响，其根源在于外应力场的大小和方向都影响着钉扎角. 关键词： 铁磁/反铁磁双层膜 交换偏置 钉扎角 应力场     

双势垒磁性隧道结的磁电阻效应及其在自旋晶体管中的应用

利用磁控溅射方法沉积双势垒磁性隧道结多层膜, 其中Al-O势垒层由等离子体氧化1 nm厚的 金属铝膜方式制备，然后采用深紫外光曝光和Ar离子刻蚀技术、微加工制备出长短轴分别为 6和3 μm大小的椭圆形双势垒磁性隧道结（DBMTJ），并在室温和低温下对其自旋电子输运 特性进行了研究. DBMTJ的隧穿磁电阻(TMR)比值在室温和42 K分别达到27％和423％， 结电阻分别为136 kΩ·μm²和175 kΩ·μm²，并在实验中观 察到平行状 态下存在低电阻态及共振隧穿效应，反平行态下呈现高电阻态以及TMR随外加偏压或直流电 流的增加而发生振荡现象. 由此，设计了一种基于这种双势垒磁性隧道结隧穿特性的自旋晶 体管. 关键词： 双势垒磁性隧道结 隧穿磁电阻 共振隧穿效应 自旋晶体管     

反铁磁Cr插入层对CoFe/MgO/CoFe磁性隧道结的隧穿磁电阻的影响

利用基于密度泛函理论和非平衡态格林函数的第一性原理计算研究了CoFe/MgO/CoFe磁性隧道结的隧穿磁电阻效应。给出了该隧道结隧穿磁电阻与偏压的依赖关系,并计算了平行结构与反平行结构相应的I-V特性曲线和传输谱。通过在一侧电极与势垒层之间插入反铁磁金属Cr层,观察到了隧穿磁电阻、电导随插入层Cr层数增加发生衰减和2个原子层周期的振荡现象,这主要是由于Cr拥有反铁磁结构,在Cr/MgO界面形成了与Cr磁矩取向相关的界面散射。     

Magnetotransport and interdiffusion characteristics of magnetic tunnel junctions comprising nano-oxide layers upon exposure to postdeposition annealing

Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structures based on underlayer (CoNbZr)/bufferlayer (CoFe)/antiferromagnet (IrMn)/pinned layer (CoFe)/tunnel barrier (AlO_x)/free layer (CoFe)/capping (CoNbZr) have been prepared to investigate thermal degradation of magnetoresistive responses. Some junctions possess a nano-oxide layer (NOL) inside either in the underlayer or bufferlayer. The main purpose of the NOL inclusion was to control interdiffusion path of Mn from the antiferromagnet so that improved thermal stability could be achieved. The MTJs with NOLs were found to have reduced interfacial roughness, resulting in improved tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) and reduced interlayer coupling field. We also confirmed that the NOL effectively suppressed the Mn interdiffusion toward the tunnel barrier by dragging Mn atoms toward NOL during annealing.     

一种非连续纳米氧化层自旋阀的显微结构研究

利用高分辨电子显微学方法(HREM)研究了纳米氧化层镜面反射自旋阀多层结构Ta(35nm)Ni80Fe20(2nm)Ir17Mn83(6nm)Co90Fe10(15nm)NOL1Co90Fe10(2nm)Cu(22nm)Co90Fe10(15nm)NOL2Ta(3nm).该自旋阀的巨磁电阻(GMR)效应高达15%,较无此镜面反射纳米氧化层(NOL)的自旋阀提高近1倍,同时交换偏置场亦有所增强.高分辨显微结构分析表明,介于钉扎层与被钉扎层之间的氧化层(NOL1)并未完全氧化,即除氧化过程生成的CoFe氧化物 关键词： 自旋阀 纳米氧化层 高分辨电子显微学 巨磁电阻效应     

First-principles study of ferromagnetism in epitaxial Si-Mn thin films on Si(001)

Density-functional theory calculations are employed to investigate both the epitaxial growth and the magnetic properties of thin Mn and MnSi films on Si(001). For single Mn adatoms, we find a preference for the second-layer interstitial site. While a monolayer Mn film is energetically unfavorable, a capping-Si layer significantly enhances the thermodynamic stability and induces a change from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic order. For higher Mn coverage, a sandwiched Si-Mn thin film (with CsCl-like crystal structure) is found to be the most stable epitaxial structure. We attribute the strong ferromagnetic intralayer coupling in these films to Mn 3d-Si 3s3p exchange.     

Antiferromagnetic and semiconducting material CrNCN: Prediction from first-principles investigation

The structural stability and physical properties of CrNCN were studied using density functional theory with explicit electronic correlation (GGA+U). Calculated results indicate that the title compound, similar to MNCN (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), is thermodynamically stable but mechanically unstable. Analysis of electronic and magnetic structures reveals that CrNCN is an antiferromagnetic semiconductor. However, the exact magnetic structure of CrNCN consists of an antiferromagnetic intralayer and a ferromagnetic interlayer, which differs from that of the type-II antiferromagnetic semiconductor MNCN (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), which consists of a ferromagnetic intralayer and an antiferromagnetic interlayer.     

On the use of exchange biased top electrodes in magnetic tunnel junctions

We have investigated the magnetic behavior and the structural properties of ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic systems (NiFe–IrMn and Co–IrMn) deposited directly on a thin tantalum buffer layer (bottom configuration) or above a thin Al₂O₃ tunnel barrier layer (top configuration). In the bottom configuration, the bilayer system exhibits higher magnetic performances than in the top configuration in terms of thermal stability. We have performed a detailed structural study by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy which allow us to establish a clear correlation between the situation of the bilayer with respect to the tunnel barrier, its texture and its magnetic properties.     

Hard magnetic CoCr layer in ferromagnetic tunnel junctions

In magnetic tunnel junctions a highly spin-polarizing layer is usually exchange biased by an antiferromagnetic layer, an artificial antiferromagnetic layer system or a combination of both, while the magnetically soft layer is free to rotate. The use of a single layer of a hard magnetic material is rarely investigated up to now. In this paper, we present the electric and magnetic properties of tunnel junctions with a hard magnetic Co₈₃Cr₁₇ layer. The soft magnetic electrode consists of either a single Co layer or a Co/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer. The magnetic anisotropy and coercive field H_C of the CoCr layer depend on its thickness and the kind of the bottom layer (Cu or Ta) and can vary from H_C=50–700 Oe. It is found that a thin Co cap layer also influences the hysteretic behavior. Furthermore, only small changes after annealing up to 450°C promise a high thermal stability for the application in magnetic tunnel junctions. Measurements of the tunnel magnetoresistance on large area junctions, however, show a strong magnetic coupling of the hard and soft electrodes.     

Temperature Dependence of Exchange Bias and Coercivity in Ferromagnetic Layer Coupled with Polycrystalline Antiferromagnetic Layer

The temperature dependence of exchange bias and coercivity in a ferromagnetic layer coupled with an antiferromagnetic layer is discussed. In this model, the temperature dependence comes from the thermal instability of the system states and the temperature modulated relative magnetic parameters. Morever, the thermal fluctuation of orientations of easy axes of antiferromagnetic grains at preparing has been considered. From the present model, the experimental results can be illustrated qualitatively for available magnetic parameters. Based on our discussion, we can conclude that soft ferromagnetic layer coupled by hard antiferromagnetic layer may be very applicable to design magnetic devices. In special exchange coupling, we can get high exchange bias and low coercivity almost independent of temperature for proper temperature ranges.     

Model of hybrid interfacial domain wall in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayers

A general model of a hybrid interfacial domain wall(HIDW) in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic exchange biased bilayers is proposed, where an interfacial domain wall is allowed to extend into either the ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic layer or across both. The proposition is based on our theoretical investigation on thickness and field dependences of ferromagnetic domain wall(FMDW) and antiferromagnetic domain wall(AFDW), respectively. Good match of the simulation to the hysteresis loops of a series of Ni Fe/Fe Mn exchange-biased bilayers confirms the existence of the HIDW, where the AFDW part is found to preferentially occupy the entire antiferromagnetic layer while the FMDW shrinks with the increased magnetic field as expected. The observed asymmetry between the ascending and descending branches of the hysteresis loop is explained naturally as a consequence of different partition ratios between AFDW and FMDW.