IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,508,925
Granted Patent B2
US 9,508,925 · App. 14/816,410 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

Magnetic memory device

Inventors: Ung-hwan Pi (Hwaseong-si, KR); Kwang-seok Kim (Seoul, KR); Kee-won Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Sung-chul Lee (Osan-si, KR); Young-man Jang (Hwaseong-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H01L43/10H01L43/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,508,925
App. No.
14/816,410
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a magnetic memory device. The magnetic memory device includes a first magnetization layer, a tunnel barrier disposed on the first magnetization layer, a second magnetization layer disposed on the tunnel barrier, and a spin current assisting layer disposed on at least a portion of a sidewall of the second magnetization layer.

Claims (31)

1. A magnetic memory device comprising:

a first magnetization layer;

a tunnel barrier disposed on the first magnetization layer;

a second magnetization layer on the tunnel barrier; and

a spin current assisting layer on at least a portion of a top surface of the second magnetization layer and on at least a portion of a sidewall of the second magnetization layer.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spin current assisting layer surrounds the sidewall of the second magnetization layer.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spin current assisting layer is in contact with a portion of the tunnel barrier.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a passivation layer configured to surround a sidewall of the spin current assisting layer.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spin current assisting layer includes a material having a giant spin Hall effect.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spin current assisting layer has a spin Hall angle of about 0.05 to about 0.5.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spin current assisting layer includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), platinum (Pt), tantalum nitride (TaN x ), and tungsten nitride (WN x ).

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spin current assisting layer includes a first material layer formed on the sidewall of the second magnetization layer, and a second material layer disposed on the first material layer.

9. A magnetic memory device comprising:

a pinned layer including a first magnetization layer;

a free layer including a second magnetization layer;

a tunnel barrier interposed between the pinned layer and the free layer; and

a spin current assisting layer on at least a portion of a top surface of the free layer and on at least a portion of a sidewall of the free layer, wherein the spin current assisting layer is in contact with at least a portion of the tunnel barrier.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the magnetization easy axis extends along the sidewall of the free layer in a direction from the pinned layer toward the free layer.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the spin current assisting layer is not electrically connected to the pinned layer.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the free layer has a first width in a direction parallel to a top surface of the tunnel barrier, and

the first width of the free layer ranges from about 5 nm to about 50 nm.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the free layer has a first height in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the tunnel barrier, and

the first height of the free layer ranges from about 2 nm to about 50 nm.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein when an aspect ratio of the free layer is defined by a ratio of the first height to the first width, the aspect ratio of the free layer ranges from about 0.1 to about 25.

15. A magnetic memory device comprising:

a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure including a first magnetization layer, a second magnetization layer, and a tunnel barrier interposed between the first and second magnetization layers; and

a spin current assisting layer on at least a portion of a top surface of the MTJ structure and on a portion of a sidewall of the MTJ structure.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the spin current assisting layer is formed on a sidewall of the first magnetization layer.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the spin current assisting layer is electrically connected to the first magnetization layer.

18. The device of claim 15 , further comprising a passivation layer on the spin current assisting layer.

19. The device of claim 15 , wherein the spin current assisting layer includes a first material layer and a second material layer sequentially stacked on a sidewall of the first magnetization layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2015
From: PI, UNG-HWAN; KIM, KWANG-SEOK; KIM, KEE-WON; LEE, SUNG-CHUL; JANG, YOUNG-MAN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 036247/0563 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0122039 · Sep 15, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160079518A1 · Mar 17, 2016