Effects of Pt capping layer on perpendicular magnet anisotropy in pseudo-spin valves of Ta/CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB/Pt magnetic-tunneling junctions

Abstract

We investigated how the Pt capping layer affected perpendicular magnet anisotropy in magnetic-tunnel-junctions fabricated with a Ta electrode, a lower CoFeB layer, an MgO barrier, an upper CoFeB layer, and a Pt capping electrode, which was estimated by using an anisotropy constant multiplied by the upper CoFeB layer thickness (K-u*t). The maximum K-u*t was found at an annealing temperature of 300 degrees C for an magnetic tunnel junction with an upper CoFeB layer thickness of 0.9 nm, indicating a highly textured MgO (100) barrier of 1.0 nm with none of the remaining Pt inter-diffused in the upper CoFeB layer. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.