Tunnel magnetoresistance of 604% at 300 K by suppression of Ta diffusion in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB pseudo-spin-valves annealed at high temperature

The authors observed tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio of 604% at 300 K in Ta/Co20Fe60B20/MgO/Co20Fe60B20/Ta pseudo-spin-valve magnetic tunnel junction annealed at 525 degrees C. To obtain high TMR ratio, it was found critical to anneal the structure at high temperature above 500 degrees C, while suppressing the Ta diffusion into CoFeB electrodes and in particular to the CoFeB/MgO interface. X-ray diffraction measurement of MgO on SiO2 or Co20Fe60B20 shows that an improvement of MgO barrier quality, in terms of the degree of the (001) orientation and stress relaxation, takes place at annealing temperatures above 450 degrees C. The highest TMR ratio observed at 5 K was 1144%. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.