Current confining layer for GMR device
Concerns about inadequate electromigration robustness in CCP CPP GMR devices have been overcome by adding magnesium to the current confining structures that are presently in use. In one embodiment the alumina layer, in which the current carrying copper regions are embedded, is fully replaced by a magnesia layer. In other embodiments, alumina is still used but a layer of magnesium is included within the structure before it is subjected to ion assisted oxidation.
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This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/352,676, filed on Feb. 13, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, and assigned to a common assignee.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to the general field of CCP/CPP GMR memory elements with particular reference to the current confining portions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCCP-CPP GMR read heads are considered as promising candidates for 180 Gb/in2 and higher magnetic recording densities. This increase in recording density requires the reduction of the read head dimensions. For example, for 180 Gb/in2, dimensions around (0.1×0.1 microns are required. A CPP read head can be considered functional only if a significant output voltage, Vout, can be achieved when the head senses the magnetic field of a recorded medium. If DR/R is defined as the percentage resistance change, at constant voltage, under the magnetic field for the sensor and V is the voltage applied across the sensor (BHV), then Vout=DR/R×V.
Referring now to
When the free layer is exposed to an external magnetic field, the direction of its magnetization is free to rotate according to the direction of the external field. After the external field is removed, the magnetization of the free layer will stay at a direction, which is dictated by the minimum energy state, determined by the crystalline and shape anisotropy, current field, coupling field and demagnetization field. If the direction of the pinned field is parallel to the free layer, electrons passing between the free and pinned layers, suffer less scattering. Thus, the resistance at this state is lower. If, however, the magnetization of the pinned layer is anti-parallel to that of the free layer, electrons moving from one layer into the other will suffer more scattering so the resistance of the structure will increase. The change in resistance of a spin valve is typically 5-15%.
In the foregoing discussion it was tacitly implied that non-magnetic spacer layer 15 is a homogenous layer of a single conductive material. In the CCP (current confined path) design, the spacer layer is actually a trilayer of two conductive layers (such as copper) with a very thin insulating layer between them. The latter is typically between about 5 and 15 Angstroms thick and includes a limited number of metal paths within itself. Thus, current through the spacer layer is confined to those areas where the two conductive layers contact one another via these metal paths (shown schematically in
As can be seen in
A routine search of the prior art was performed with the following references of interest being found:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,077 (Fujiwara et al) teaches that a current-confining path is formed in an insulating layer of a GMR-CPP. U.S. 2005/0002126 (Fujiwara et al) discloses a current-confining layer structure formed of a conductor and an insulator. The conductor may be Al, Mg, Cr, Cu, etc. U.S. 2005/0152076 (Nagasaka et al) teaches that oxidation of an magnetic layer results in a current-confining effect. Oxidation of a magnetic intermediate layer such as CoFe between two layers of Cu is taught. U.S. 2005/0094317 (Funayama) and 2005/0052787 (Funayama et al) show a current control region comprising AlOx and Cu. Mg or Cr could be used with a copper content of 1% to 50%.
U.S. 2004/0190204 (Yoshikawa et al) shows an intermediate layer comprising Cu/oxidized AlCu/Cu where AlCu is oxidized by IAO. U.S. 2003-0053269 (Nishiyama) teaches that a non-magnetic layer functions as a current confining layer. This layer may be Al203, Si02, or Ta02. U.S. 2005.0122633 (Nowak et al) describes forming current-confining paths in the MR stack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt has been an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a CCP CPP GMR device that has good electromigration robustness.
Another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention has been to provide a method for forming said device.
These objects have been achieved by modifying the current confining structures, that are presently in use, through the addition of magnesium. In one embodiment the alumina layer, in which the current carrying copper regions are embedded, is fully replaced by a magnesia layer. In other embodiments, alumina is still used but a layer of magnesium is included within the structure before it is subjected to ion assisted oxidation.
Since magnesium is an excellent oxygen getter, it will take excess oxygen away from AlOx and thereby prevent the copper from being oxidized. Also, Mg insertion at the AlCu layer breaks the growth pattern of the AlCu so the final stress state will be much different from that of a pure alumina layer. All these factors contribute to the electromigration robustness improvement provided by the present invention.
In
As a consequence of the IAO step, former layer 22 can be seen in
As discussed earlier, an AlCu layer has been routinely incorporated within our CCP-CPP GMR structures. After the AlCu deposition, this layer was exposed to oxygen by means of the PT/IAO process which resulted in the formation of an alumina layer, in which were embedded regions of free copper that provided the desired confined current paths. Al2O3 is, however, known to be amorphous under the above formation conditions suggesting that it would not provide a good template for Cu crystalline growth. This, in turn, leads to a deterioration of the EM robustness and thus introduces a reliability problem.
MgCu alloy, on the other hand, will form a current confining path in MgO through Cu metal segregation following similar PT/IAO treatments of deposited MgCu. Magnesia has been demonstrated to provide a crystalline barrier with a very large dR/R ratio (specifically for the TMR (tunneling magnetoresistance) case). Upon oxidation by the PT/IAO process and post-annealing, it provides a crystalline template suitable for Cu crystalline growth. It follows that the CPP EM robustness will also be greatly improved.
1st EmbodimentReferring now to
Now a pre-treatment by a low power plasma etch is provided which is followed by ion assisted oxidation in a mixture of argon and oxygen. As a result of these treatments, the contents of this MgCu layer segregate themselves into regions 33 of relatively pure magnesia and relatively pure free copper 34, the latter becoming the confined paths through which current will have to flow when traversing the device.
The method ends with the deposition of a second copper layer 21b on copper-magnesia layer 33, followed by the deposition of magnetic free layer 16. Copper layers 21a and 21b each have a thickness between about 1 and 7 Angstroms.
2nd EmbodimentReferring next to
The presence of magnesium as a ‘dopant’ in the final structure ensures the needed level of crystallinity of the alumina that surrounds the copper paths through it.
3rd and 4th EmbodimentsReferring now to
The net result after the PT/IAO treatments is similar to that obtained in the 2nd embodiment.
EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATIONSince the Mg is an excellent oxygen getter, it will take the excess oxygen away from the AlOx and prevent Cu from being oxidized. Also, Mg insertion at the AlCu layer breaks the growth pattern of the AlCu so the stress state will be much different after PT/IAO. All these factors contribute to the EM robustness improvement as we subsequently confirmed through experiments with CPP wafers.
As shown in
Ta10/Ru10/IrMn70/Fe10% Co8/Fe70% Co9/Fe10% Co15/Ru7.5/Fe70% Co 12/Cu2/Fe70% Co12/Cu5.2/AlCu3/Mg3/AlCu3/PT(20 W50 sccm35s)/IAO(27 W Ar/O=35/0.56 40s)/Cu3/Fe25% Co20/Ni90% Fe28/Ru10/Ta60/Ru30
Claims
1. A method to form a current confining path as part of a CPP GMR device, comprising:
- providing a magnetically pinned layer and depositing thereon a first copper layer;
- depositing a first layer of AlCu alloy on said-first copper layer;
- depositing a layer of magnesium on said first AlCu layer;
- depositing a second layer of AlCu alloy on said magnesium layer;
- following a pre-treatment, subjecting said Mg and AlCu layers to ion assisted oxidation whereby said AlCu layers segregate into regions of alumina and free copper;
- depositing a second copper layer on said second copper-alumina layer, whereby current flow between said first and second copper layers is confined to said regions of free copper; and
- depositing a magnetically free layer on said second copper layer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said AlCu alloy layers have a total thickness of between 0 and 15 Angstroms.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said magnesium layer has a thickness between about 1 and 15 Angstroms.
4. A method to form a current confining path as part of a CPP GMR device, comprising:
- providing a magnetically pinned layer and depositing thereon a first copper layer;
- depositing a layer of magnesium on said first copper layer;
- depositing a layer of AlCu alloy on said magnesium layer;
- following a pre-treatment, subjecting said Mg and AlCu layers to ion assisted oxidation whereby said AlCu layer segregates into regions of alumina and free copper;
- depositing a second copper layer on said second copper-alumina layer, whereby current flow between said first and second copper layers is confined to said regions of free copper; and
- depositing a magnetically free layer on said second copper layer.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 20, 2009
Publication Date: Feb 18, 2010
Applicant:
Inventors: Kunliang Zhang (Milpitas, CA), Daniel Gabels (San Franciso, CA), Min Li (Dublin, CA), Yu-Hsia Chen (Mountain View, CA)
Application Number: 12/589,207
International Classification: G11B 5/127 (20060101);