IP Library Granted Patent US 10,431,733
Granted Patent B2
US 10,431,733 · App. 15/633,653 · Granted Oct 1, 2019

Perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction devices with high thermal stability

Inventors: Weigang Wang (Tucson, AZ); Hamid Almasi (Tucson, AZ)
Assignee: THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
H01L43/02H01F10/30H01F10/3286H01F41/307H01L43/08H01L43/10H01L43/12H01F10/3254H01F10/3272
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,431,733
App. No.
15/633,653
Granted
Oct 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction device (pMTJ) is provided that has a structure of a first heavy metal layer, a first thin dusting layer on the first heavy metal layer, a first CoFeB layer on the thin dusting layer, a MgO barrier layer on the first CoFeB layer, a second CoFeB layer on the MgO barrier layer, a second thin dusting layer on the CoFeB layer; and a second heavy metal layer on the thin dusting layer. The insertion of the thin dusting layer improves thermal stability of the pMTJ structure.

Claims (38)

1. A perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction device (pMTJ) comprising:

a first heavy metal layer;

a first thin dusting layer on the first heavy metal layer;

a first CoFeB layer on the first thin dusting layer;

a MgO barrier layer on the first CoFeB layer;

a second CoFeB layer on the MgO barrier layer;

a second thin dusting layer on the second CoFeB layer; and

a second heavy metal layer on the thin dusting layer.

2. The pMTJ of claim 1 , wherein the first heavy metal and the second heavy metal layer are each selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ta, Pt, W, Mo, Nb, Hf, Ir, Zr, Cr, Re, Ti and alloys of Ru, Ta, Pt, W, Mo, Nb, Hf, Ir, Zr, Cr, Re, and Ti.

3. The pMTJ of claim 1 , wherein the first thin dusting layer and the second thin dusting layer are each selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Zr, Nb, Ir and alloys of Mo, W, Zr, Nb and Ir.

4. The pMTJ of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first thin dusting layer is between 0.1-0.9 nm; and the thickness of the second thin dusting layer is between 0.1-0.9 nm.

5. The pMTJ of claim 1 , wherein the first thin dusting layer and the second thin dusting layer each comprise Mo.

6. A highly thermal stable magnetic random access memory (MRAM) unit comprising:

at least one perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction device (pMTJ), the pMTJ comprising:

a first heavy metal layer;

a first thin dusting layer on the first heavy metal layer;

a first CoFeB layer on the first thin dusting layer;

a MgO barrier layer on the first CoFeB layer;

a second CoFeB layer on the MgO barrier layer;

a second thin dusting layer on the second CoFeB layer; and

a second heavy metal layer on the thin dusting layer.

7. The MRAM unit of claim 6 , wherein the first heavy metal and the second heavy metal layer are each selected from the group consisting of Ta, Ru, Pt and alloys of Ta, Ru and Pt.

8. The MRAM unit of claim 6 , wherein the first thin dusting layer and the second thin dusting layer are each selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Zr, Nb, Ir and alloys of Mo, W, Zr, Nb and Ir.

9. The MRAM unit of claim 6 , wherein the thickness of the first thin dusting layer is between 0.1-0.9 nm; and the thickness of the second thin dusting layer is between 0.1-0.9 nm.

10. The MRAM unit of claim 6 , wherein the first thin dusting layer and the second thin dusting layer each comprises Mo.

11. A method of fabricating a pMTJ, the method comprising:

forming a first heavy metal layer;

forming a first dusting layer on the first heavy metal layer;

forming a first CoFeB layer on the first dusting layer;

forming a MgO barrier layer on the first CoFeB layer;

forming a second CoFeB layer on the MgO barrier layer;

forming a second dusting layer on the second CoFeB layer;

forming a second heavy metal layer on the second dusting layer; and

annealing the pMTJ.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first heavy metal and the second heavy metal layer are each selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ta, Pt, W, Mo, Nb, Hf, Ir, Zr, Cr, Re, Ti and alloys of Ru, Ta, Pt, W, Mo, Nb, Hf, Ir, Zr, Cr, Re, and Ti.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first dusting layer and the second dusting layer are each selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Zr, Nb, Ir and alloys of Mo, W, Zr, Nb and Ir.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first dusting layer is formed to a thickness of between 0.1-0.9 nm; and the second dusting layer is formed to a thickness of between 0.1-0.9 nm.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first dusting layer and the second dusting layer each comprise Mo.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 15, 2017
From: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 043972/0286 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2017
From: WANG, WEIGANG; ALMASI, HAMID
To: THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Reel/Frame 042820/0153 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62355124 · Jun 27, 2016
Related Publication 20170373246A1 · Dec 28, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,620,426