Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a bottom electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure disposed over the bottom electrode, a seed layer disposed between the MTJ structure and the bottom electrode, and a non-magnetic amorphous insertion layer disposed between the seed layer and the bottom electrode.

Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element including a free layer, a reference layer; and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer. The reference layer includes a first pinned layer, a second pinned layer, an anti-ferromagnetic coupling (AFC) spacer layer between the first pinned layer and the second pinned layer, a first spacer layer adjacent to the second pinned layer, a second spacer layer, a ferromagnetic layer sandwiched by the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer, a polarization enhancement layer adjacent to the second spacer layer.

Abstract: A storage layer of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element is disclosed. The storage layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a first dust layer disposed directly on the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed directly on the first dust layer, a second dust layer disposed directly on the second ferromagnetic layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer disposed directly on the second dust layer. A material of the first dust layer is different from a material of the second dust layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element is disclosed. A substrate is provided. A reference layer is formed on the substrate. A tunnel barrier layer is formed on the reference layer. A free layer is formed on the tunnel barrier layer. A composite capping layer is formed on the free layer. The composite capping layer comprises an amorphous layer, a light-element sink layer, and/or a diffusion-stop layer. The reference layer, the tunnel barrier layer, the free layer, and the composite capping layer constitute an MTJ stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory structure includes a substrate, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) stack disposed on the substrate, and an encapsulation layer surrounding the MTJ stack. The encapsulation layer comprises an outer silicon oxynitride layer with a composition of SiOx1Ny1 and an inner silicon oxynitride layer with a composition of SiOx2Ny2, wherein x1/y1>x2/y2.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory structure includes a substrate, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) stack disposed on the substrate, and an encapsulation layer surrounding the MTJ stack. The encapsulation layer comprises an outer silicon oxynitride layer with a composition of SiOx1Ny1 and an inner silicon oxynitride layer with a composition of SiOx2Ny2, wherein x1/y1>x2/y2.

Abstract: A storage layer of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element is disclosed. The storage layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a first dust layer disposed directly on the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed directly on the first dust layer, a second dust layer disposed directly on the second ferromagnetic layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer disposed directly on the second dust layer. A material of the first dust layer is different from a material of the second dust layer.

Abstract: A composite storage layer for magnetic memory devices includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a tri-layered spacer stack disposed on the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed on the tri-layered spacer stack, and an oxide capping layer on the second ferromagnetic layer. The tri-layered spacer stack comprises a first non-magnetic layer, a discontinuous, insulating oxide layer, and a second non-magnetic layer. The discontinuous, insulating oxide layer is sandwiched by the first non-magnetic layer and the second non-magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier layer on the reference layer, a free layer on the tunnel barrier layer, and a composite capping layer on the free layer. The composite capping layer comprises a diffusion-stop layer on the free layer, a light-element sink layer on the diffusion-stop layer, and an amorphous layer on the light-element sink layer.

Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element including a free layer, a reference layer; and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer. The reference layer includes a first pinned layer, a second pinned layer, an anti-ferromagnetic coupling (AFC) spacer layer between the first pinned layer and the second pinned layer, a first spacer layer adjacent to the second pinned layer, a second spacer layer, a ferromagnetic layer sandwiched by the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer, a polarization enhancement layer adjacent to the second spacer layer.

Abstract: A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element is disclosed. The MTJ element includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier layer on the reference layer, a free layer on the tunnel barrier layer, and a composite capping layer on the free layer. The composite capping layer includes an amorphous layer, a light-element sink layer, and/or a diffusion-stop layer. The composite capping layer is in direct contact with the free layer and forms a first interface with the free layer. The composite capping layer is in direct contact with a top electrode and forms a second interface with the top electrode.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element is disclosed. A substrate is provided. A reference layer is formed on the substrate. A tunnel barrier layer is formed on the reference layer. A free layer is formed on the tunnel barrier layer. A composite capping layer is formed on the free layer. The composite capping layer comprises an amorphous layer, a light-element sink layer, and/or a diffusion-stop layer. The reference layer, the tunnel barrier layer, the free layer, and the composite capping layer constitute an MTJ stack.

Abstract: A memory array that comprises three dimensionally stacked two-dimensional memory arrays. The memory array includes a first layer and a second layer oriented orthogonal to the first layer. The memory array further includes a magnetic tunnel junction adjacent to each of the first layer and the second layer. The magnetic tunnel junction further includes a first magnetic layer adjacent to the second layer. Additionally, the magnetic tunnel junction includes a second magnetic layer adjacent to the first layer. The magnetic tunnel junction also includes a tunnel layer adjacent to the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: A composite storage layer for magnetic memory devices includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a tri-layered spacer stack disposed on the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed on the tri-layered spacer stack, and an oxide capping layer on the second ferromagnetic layer. The tri-layered spacer stack comprises a first non-magnetic layer, a discontinuous, insulating oxide layer, and a second non-magnetic layer. The discontinuous, insulating oxide layer is sandwiched by the first non-magnetic layer and the second non-magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element including a free layer, a reference layer; and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer. The reference layer includes a first pinned layer, a second pinned layer, an anti-ferromagnetic coupling (AFC) spacer layer between the first pinned layer and the second pinned layer, a texture decoupling layer, a polarization enhancement layer, and a coupling enhancement (CE) structure between the texture decoupling layer and the second pinned layer.

Abstract: A magneto-electronic device may include: a spin-orbit torque (SOT) generator layer; a magnetic memory layer; and/or sensing electrodes configured to measure a Hall effect of the magnetic memory layer. The SOT generator layer may include topological insulator material, and the magnetic memory layer may include ferromagnetic material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. A magneto-electronic device may include: a spin-orbit torque (SOT) generator layer; a first magnetic memory layer on the SOT generator layer; an insulating layer on the first magnetic memory layer; and/or a second magnetic memory layer on the insulating layer. The SOT generator layer may include topological insulator material. The first magnetic memory layer and the second magnetic memory layer may include ferromagnetic material with either perpendicular magnetic anisotropy or in-plane magnetic anisotropy.

Abstract: A magneto-electronic device may include: a spin-orbit torque (SOT) generator layer; a magnetic memory layer; and/or sensing electrodes configured to measure a Hall effect of the magnetic memory layer. The SOT generator layer may include topological insulator material, and the magnetic memory layer may include ferromagnetic material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. A magneto-electronic device may include: a spin-orbit torque (SOT) generator layer; a first magnetic memory layer on the SOT generator layer; an insulating layer on the first magnetic memory layer; and/or a second magnetic memory layer on the insulating layer. The SOT generator layer may include topological insulator material. The first magnetic memory layer and the second magnetic memory layer may include ferromagnetic material with either perpendicular magnetic anisotropy or in-plane magnetic anisotropy.

Abstract: A memory array that comprises three dimensionally stacked two-dimensional memory arrays. The memory array includes a first layer and a second layer oriented orthogonal to the first layer. The memory array further includes a magnetic tunnel junction adjacent to each of the first layer and the second layer. The magnetic tunnel junction further includes a first magnetic layer adjacent to the second layer. Additionally, the magnetic tunnel junction includes a second magnetic layer adjacent to the first layer. The magnetic tunnel junction also includes a tunnel layer adjacent to the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element according to an embodiment includes: a first magnetic layer; a second magnetic layer; a first nonmagnetic layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a third magnetic layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the first nonmagnetic layer, the first magnetic layer containing Mn and at least one of Ge, Ga, or Al, and the third magnetic layer containing Mn2VZ, where V represents vanadium, and Z represents at least one element of Al or Ga.

Abstract: Provided is an electric-current-controllable magnetic unit, including: a substrate, an electric-current channel disposed on the substrate, the electric-current channel including a composite heavy-metal multilayer comprising at least one heavy-metal; a capping layer disposed over the electric-current channel; and at least one ferromagnetic layer disposed between the electric-current channel and the capping layer.