Spin-current switchable magnetic memory element and method of fabricating the memory element

1. A spin-current switchable magnetic memory element, comprising:

a plurality of magnetic layers having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy component, at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising an alloy of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal; and

at least one barrier layer formed adjacent to at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers,

wherein said perpendicular magnetic anistropy component has a magnitude sufficient to at least substantially offset an easy-plane demagnetization effect, such that a magnetic moment of one of said plurality of magnetic layers is one of resting out of the layer plane and rotatable out of the layer plane under spin current excitation.

2. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of magnetic layers comprises a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer, said at least one barrier layer being formed between said first and second magnetic layers.

3. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprises a current-switchable magnetic moment.

4. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers are formed by sputter deposition.

5. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprises a cobalt layer formed on platinum.

6. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprises a cobalt layer formed on gold.

7. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprises a magnetically free layer which can be rotated by a spin-current injection.

8. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising said alloy comprises a fixed magnetic layer which comprises a sufficient thickness and a sufficient magnetic anisotropy to stay fixed during a current-induced switching process.

9. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising said alloy comprises a fixed magnetic layer which provides a sufficient amount of spin-polarized current.

10. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said alloy comprises a GdCo alloy.

11. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said alloy comprises a TbFeCo alloy.

12. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising said alloy can comprise a thickness of more than 100 Å.

13. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of magnetic layers comprises:

a first magnetically fixed layer;

a magnetically free layer formed on said first magnetically fixed layer; and

a second magnetically fixed layer formed on said magnetically free layer, and wherein said at least one barrier layer comprises:

a first barrier layer formed between said first magnetically fixed layer and said magnetically free layer; and

a second barrier layer formed between said magnetically free layer and said second magnetically fixed layer.

14. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first lead formed adjacent to one of said plurality of magnetic layers; a second lead formed adjacent to another one of said plurality of magnetic layers; and

a pillar formed between said first and second leads, said pillar including said at least one baffler layer and at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers.

15. The magnetic memory element according to claim 14 , wherein a magnetic moment of said at least one magnetic layer included in said pillar is switchable by an electrical current.

16. The magnetic memory element according to claim 14 , wherein a magnetic moment of said at least one magnetic layer included in said pillar is switchable by an electrical current having a density of no more than about 10 6 A/cm 2 .

17. The magnetic memory element according to claim 14 , wherein said barrier layer preserves spin information for an electric current injected into said pillar and provides a resistance to said current.

18. The magnetic memory element according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first and second leads includes a magnetic layer of said plurality of magnetic layers.

19. The magnetic memory element according to claim 14 , wherein said pillar comprises a lithographed pillar having a diameter of less than about 100 nm.

20. The magnetic memory element according to claim 14 , wherein said pillar has an electrical resistance which depends on a magnetization direction of a lower magnetic layer with respect to a magnetization direction of an upper layer.

21. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one baffler layer comprises a plurality of barrier layers which are alternately formed with said plurality of magnetic layers.

22. The magnetic memory element according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one barrier layer comprises at least one of an aluminum oxide layer, a magnesium oxide layer, a doped semiconductor layer, a non-magnetic metal layer and a SrTiO 3 layer.

23. A magnetic memory element, comprising:

first and second leads;

a pillar formed between said first and second leads,

a plurality of magnetic layers having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy component, at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising an alloy of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal; and

at least one barrier layer formed adjacent to at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers,

wherein said perpendicular magnetic anistropy component has a magnitude sufficient to at least substantially offset an easy-plane demagnetization effect, such that a magnetic moment of one of said plurality of magnetic layers is one of resting out of the layer plane and rotatable out of the layer plane under spin current excitation.

24. A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) array comprising a plurality of magnetic magnetic memory elements according to claim 23 .

25. A magnetic memory element, comprising:

a plurality of layers comprising:

a plurality of magnetic layers having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy component, at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising an alloy of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal; and

at least one baffler layer formed adjacent to at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers,

wherein said perpendicular magnetic anistropy component has a magnitude sufficient to at least substantially offset an easy-plane demagnetization effect, such that a magnetic moment of one of said plurality of magnetic layers is one of resting out of the layer plane and rotatable out of the layer plane under spin current excitation.

26. The magnetic memory element according to claim 25 , wherein said plurality of layers comprises:

a first layer comprising one of Pt and Au;

a second layer comprising Co formed on the first layer;

a third layer comprising an oxide barrier formed on the second layer;

a fourth layer comprising Co x Fe 1-x formed on the third layer;

a fifth layer comprising TbFeCo formed on the fourth layer; and

a sixth layer comprising Pt formed on the fifth layer.

27. The magnetic memory element according to claim 25 , wherein said plurality of layers comprises:

a first layer comprising TbFeCo;

a second layer comprising Co x Fe 1-x formed on the first layer;

a third layer comprising a tunnel baffler formed on the second layer;

a fourth layer comprising Co formed on the third layer;

a fifth layer comprising Au formed on the fourth layer;

a sixth layer comprising Co x Fe 1-x formed on the fifth layer;

a seventh layer comprising TbFeCo formed on the sixth layer; and

an eighth layer comprising Pt formed on the seventh layer.

28. The magnetic memory element according to claim 25 , wherein said plurality of layers comprises in sequence:

a first layer comprising TbFeCo;

a second layer comprising Co x Fe 1-x formed on the first layer;

a third layer comprising a tunnel baffler formed on the second layer;

a fourth layer comprising Co formed on the third layer;

a fifth layer comprising Au formed on the fourth layer;

a sixth layer comprising a tunnel barrier formed on the fifth layer;

a seventh layer comprising TbFeCo formed on the sixth layer; and

an eighth layer comprising Pt formed on the seventh layer.

29. A method of fabricating a magnetic memory element, said method comprising:

providing a wafer having a bottom electrode;

forming a plurality of layers, such that interfaces between said plurality of layers are formed in situ, said plurality of layers comprising:

a plurality of magnetic layers having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy component, at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising an alloy of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal; and

at least one barrier layer formed adjacent to at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers;

lithographically defining a pillar structure from said plurality of layers; and

forming a top electrode on said pillar structure,

wherein said perpendicular magnetic anistropy component has a magnitude sufficient to at least substantially offset an easy-plane demagnetization effect, such that a magnetic moment of one of said plurality of magnetic layers is one of resting out of the layer plane and rotatable out of the layer plane under spin current excitation.

30. A spin-current switchable magnetic memory element, comprising:

a plurality of magnetic layers, at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers having a shape-induced easy-plane anisotropy which is reduced by a component of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers comprising an alloy of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal; and

at least one barrier layer formed adjacent to at least one of said plurality of magnetic layers,

wherein said component of perpendicular magnetic anistropy has a magnitude sufficient to at least substantially offset said easy-plane anisotropy, such that a magnetic moment of one of said plurality of magnetic layers is one of resting out of the layer plane and rotatable out of the layer plane under spin current excitation.