Multi Tunnel Junctions (MTJs) have attracted much attention recently in the fields of Single-Electron Transistor (SET) and Single-Electron Memory (SEM). In this paper, we investigate a nano-device structure using a tw...Multi Tunnel Junctions (MTJs) have attracted much attention recently in the fields of Single-Electron Transistor (SET) and Single-Electron Memory (SEM). In this paper, we investigate a nano-device structure using a two one dimensional array MTJs connected to the basic Single Electron Circuits, in order to analyze the impact of physical parameters on the performances and application of this structure. The device generates can operate at room temperature. The simulation of single-electron circuit demonstrates with Monte Carlo simulator, SIMON.展开更多
Nano-ring-type magnetic tunnel junctions （NR-MTJs） with the layer structure of Ta（5）/Ir22Mn78（10）/ Co75Fe25（2）/Ru（0.75）/CoooFe20B20（3）/Al（0.6）-oxide/Co60Fe20B20（2.5）/Ta（3）/Ru（5） （thickness unit：...Nano-ring-type magnetic tunnel junctions （NR-MTJs） with the layer structure of Ta（5）/Ir22Mn78（10）/ Co75Fe25（2）/Ru（0.75）/CoooFe20B20（3）/Al（0.6）-oxide/Co60Fe20B20（2.5）/Ta（3）/Ru（5） （thickness unit： nm） were nano-fabricated on the Si（100）/SiO2 substrate using magnetron sputtering deposition combined with the optical lithography, electron beam lithography （EBL） and Ar ion-beam etching techniques. The smaller NR-MTJs with the inner- and outer-diameter of around 50 and 100 nm and also their corresponding NR-MTJ arrays were nano-patterned. The tunnelling magnetoresistance （TMR ＆ R） versus driving current （I） loops for a spin-polarized current switching were measured, and the TMR ratio of around 35% at room temperature were observed. The critical values of switching current for the free Co60Fe20B20 layer relative to the reference Co6oFe2oB2o layer between parallel and anti-parallel magnetization states were between 0.50 and 0.75 mA in such NR-MTJs. It is suggested that the applicable MRAM fabrication with the density and capacity higher than 256 Mbit/inch2 even 6 Gbite/inch2 are possible using both I NR-MTJ＋1 transistor structure and current switching mechanism based on based on our fabricated 4×4 MRAM demo devices.展开更多
Tantalum as an insulating barrier can take the place of Al in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Ta barriers in MTJs were fabricated by natural oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize...Tantalum as an insulating barrier can take the place of Al in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Ta barriers in MTJs were fabricated by natural oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the oxidation states of Ta barrier. The experimental results show that the chemical state of tantalum is pure Ta^(5+) and the thickness of the oxide is 1.3 nm. The unoxidized Ta in the barrier may chemically reacted with NiFe layer which is usually used in MTJs to form an intermetallic compound, NiTa_2. A magnetic 'dead layer' could be produced in the NiFe/Ta interface. The 'dead layer' is likely to influence the spinning electron transport and the magnetoresistance effect.展开更多
Tantalum as an insulating barrier can take the place of Al in magnetic tunneljunctions (MTJs). Ta barriers in MTJs were fabricated by natural oxidation. X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize t...Tantalum as an insulating barrier can take the place of Al in magnetic tunneljunctions (MTJs). Ta barriers in MTJs were fabricated by natural oxidation. X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the oxidation states of Ta barrier. The experimentalresults show that the chemical state of tantalum is pure Ta^(5+) and the thickness of the oxide is1.3 nm. The unoxidized Ta in the barrier may chemically reacted with NiFe layer which is usuallyused in MTJs to form an intermetallic compound, NiTa_2. A magnetic 'dead layer' could be produced inthe NiFe/Ta interface. The 'dead layer' is likely to influence the spinning electron transport andthe magnetoresistance effect.展开更多
We investigate properties of perpendicular anisotropy magnetic tunnel junctions(pMTJs) with a stack structure MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO as the free layer(or recording layer),and obtain the necessary device parameters fro...We investigate properties of perpendicular anisotropy magnetic tunnel junctions(pMTJs) with a stack structure MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO as the free layer(or recording layer),and obtain the necessary device parameters from the tunneling magnetoresistance(TMR) vs.field loops and current-driven magnetization switching experiments.Based on the experimental results and device parameters,we further estimate current-driven switching performance of pMTJ including switching time and power,and their dependence on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and damping constant of the free layer by SPICE-based circuit simulations.Our results show that the pMTJ cells exhibit a less than 1 ns switching time and write energies <1.4 pJ;meanwhile the lower perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) and damping constant can further reduce the switching time at the studied range of damping constant α <0.1.Additionally,our results demonstrate that the pMTJs with the thermal stability factor■73 can be easily transformed into spin-torque nano-oscillators from magnetic memory as microwave sources or detectors for telecommunication devices.展开更多
Because of the wide selectivity of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric(FE)components,electric-field(E-field)control of magnetism via strain mediation can be easily realized through composite multiferroic heterostructures....Because of the wide selectivity of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric(FE)components,electric-field(E-field)control of magnetism via strain mediation can be easily realized through composite multiferroic heterostructures.Here,an MgO-based magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ)is chosen rationally as the ferromagnetic constitution and a high-activity(001)-Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))_(0.7)Ti_(0.3)O_(3)(PMN-0.3PT)single crystal is selected as the FE component to create a multiferroic MTJ/FE hybrid structure.The shape of tunneling magnetoresistance(TMR)versus in situ E-fields imprints the butterfly loop of the piezo-strain of the FE without magnetic-field bias.The E-field-controlled change in the TMR ratio is up to-0.27%without magnetic-field bias.Moreover,when a typical magnetic field(~±10 Oe)is applied along the minor axis of the MTJ,the butterfly loop is changed significantly by the E-fields relative to that without magnetic-field bias.This suggests that the E-field-controlled junction resistance is spin-dependent and correlated with magnetization switching in the free layer of the MTJ.In addition,based on such a multiferroic heterostructure,a strain-gauge factor up to approximately 40 is achieved,which decreases further with a sign change from positive to negative with increasing magnetic fields.This multiferroic hybrid structure is a promising avenue to control TMR through E-fields in low-power-consumption spintronic and straintronic devices at room temperature.展开更多
We have presented here a simple model of magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ)device and the proposed MTJ model is utilizedfor validation purpose and also to study its tunnel magneto-resistance(TMR)effect by both simulation a...We have presented here a simple model of magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ)device and the proposed MTJ model is utilizedfor validation purpose and also to study its tunnel magneto-resistance(TMR)effect by both simulation and experimentalmethod using an operational amplifier(OPAMP)based inverting amplifier.Experimental results substantiates both the simulatedand theoretical outcomes.展开更多
Spintronics has received a great attention and significant interest within the past decades,and provided considerable and remarked applications in industry and electronic information etc.In spintronics,the MgO based m...Spintronics has received a great attention and significant interest within the past decades,and provided considerable and remarked applications in industry and electronic information etc.In spintronics,the MgO based magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ) is an important research advancement because of its physical properties and excellent performance,such as the high TMR ratio in MgO based MTJs.We present an overview of more than a decade development in MgO based MTJs.The review contains three main sections.(1) Research of several types of MgO based MTJs,including single-crystal MgO barrier based-MTJs,double barrier MTJs,MgO based MTJs with interlayer,novel electrode material MTJs based on MgO,novel barrier based MTJs,novel barrier MTJs based on MgO,and perpendicular MTJs.(2) Some typical physical effects in MgO based MTJs,which include six observed physical effects in MgO based MTJs,namely spin transfer torque(STT) effect,Coulomb blockade magnetoresistance(CBMR) effect,oscillatory magnetoresistance,quantum-well resonance tunneling effect,electric field assisted magnetization switching effect,and spincaloric effect.(3) In the last section,a brief introduction of some important device applications of MgO based MTJs,such as GMR & TMR read heads and magneto-sensitive sensors,both field and current switching MRAM,spin nano oscillators,and spin logic devices,have been provided.展开更多
文摘Multi Tunnel Junctions (MTJs) have attracted much attention recently in the fields of Single-Electron Transistor (SET) and Single-Electron Memory (SEM). In this paper, we investigate a nano-device structure using a two one dimensional array MTJs connected to the basic Single Electron Circuits, in order to analyze the impact of physical parameters on the performances and application of this structure. The device generates can operate at room temperature. The simulation of single-electron circuit demonstrates with Monte Carlo simulator, SIMON.
基金the State Key Project of Fundamental Research of Ministry of Science and Technology （No. 2006CB932200） the National Natural Science Foundation of China （NSFC, No. 10574156）+2 种基金 the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Aca.demy of Sciencesthe protial support of 0utstanding Young Researcher Foundation （Nos. 50325104 and 50528101） K.C.Wong Education Foundation, Hong Kong.
文摘Nano-ring-type magnetic tunnel junctions （NR-MTJs） with the layer structure of Ta（5）/Ir22Mn78（10）/ Co75Fe25（2）/Ru（0.75）/CoooFe20B20（3）/Al（0.6）-oxide/Co60Fe20B20（2.5）/Ta（3）/Ru（5） （thickness unit： nm） were nano-fabricated on the Si（100）/SiO2 substrate using magnetron sputtering deposition combined with the optical lithography, electron beam lithography （EBL） and Ar ion-beam etching techniques. The smaller NR-MTJs with the inner- and outer-diameter of around 50 and 100 nm and also their corresponding NR-MTJ arrays were nano-patterned. The tunnelling magnetoresistance （TMR ＆ R） versus driving current （I） loops for a spin-polarized current switching were measured, and the TMR ratio of around 35% at room temperature were observed. The critical values of switching current for the free Co60Fe20B20 layer relative to the reference Co6oFe2oB2o layer between parallel and anti-parallel magnetization states were between 0.50 and 0.75 mA in such NR-MTJs. It is suggested that the applicable MRAM fabrication with the density and capacity higher than 256 Mbit/inch2 even 6 Gbite/inch2 are possible using both I NR-MTJ＋1 transistor structure and current switching mechanism based on based on our fabricated 4×4 MRAM demo devices.
文摘Tantalum as an insulating barrier can take the place of Al in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Ta barriers in MTJs were fabricated by natural oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the oxidation states of Ta barrier. The experimental results show that the chemical state of tantalum is pure Ta^(5+) and the thickness of the oxide is 1.3 nm. The unoxidized Ta in the barrier may chemically reacted with NiFe layer which is usually used in MTJs to form an intermetallic compound, NiTa_2. A magnetic 'dead layer' could be produced in the NiFe/Ta interface. The 'dead layer' is likely to influence the spinning electron transport and the magnetoresistance effect.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Research Foundation for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China under Grant No.50271007 and 20030008003, respectively
文摘Tantalum as an insulating barrier can take the place of Al in magnetic tunneljunctions (MTJs). Ta barriers in MTJs were fabricated by natural oxidation. X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the oxidation states of Ta barrier. The experimentalresults show that the chemical state of tantalum is pure Ta^(5+) and the thickness of the oxide is1.3 nm. The unoxidized Ta in the barrier may chemically reacted with NiFe layer which is usuallyused in MTJs to form an intermetallic compound, NiTa_2. A magnetic 'dead layer' could be produced inthe NiFe/Ta interface. The 'dead layer' is likely to influence the spinning electron transport andthe magnetoresistance effect.
基金Project supported by State Grid Corporation of China under the 2018 Science and Technology Project of State Grid Corporation:Research on electromagnetic measurement technology based on EIT and TMR(Grant No.JL71-18-007)。
文摘We investigate properties of perpendicular anisotropy magnetic tunnel junctions(pMTJs) with a stack structure MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO as the free layer(or recording layer),and obtain the necessary device parameters from the tunneling magnetoresistance(TMR) vs.field loops and current-driven magnetization switching experiments.Based on the experimental results and device parameters,we further estimate current-driven switching performance of pMTJ including switching time and power,and their dependence on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and damping constant of the free layer by SPICE-based circuit simulations.Our results show that the pMTJ cells exhibit a less than 1 ns switching time and write energies <1.4 pJ;meanwhile the lower perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) and damping constant can further reduce the switching time at the studied range of damping constant α <0.1.Additionally,our results demonstrate that the pMTJs with the thermal stability factor■73 can be easily transformed into spin-torque nano-oscillators from magnetic memory as microwave sources or detectors for telecommunication devices.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52072102 and 11775224)It was also partially funded through the Open Foundation of the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale(Grant No.KF2020002).
文摘Because of the wide selectivity of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric(FE)components,electric-field(E-field)control of magnetism via strain mediation can be easily realized through composite multiferroic heterostructures.Here,an MgO-based magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ)is chosen rationally as the ferromagnetic constitution and a high-activity(001)-Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))_(0.7)Ti_(0.3)O_(3)(PMN-0.3PT)single crystal is selected as the FE component to create a multiferroic MTJ/FE hybrid structure.The shape of tunneling magnetoresistance(TMR)versus in situ E-fields imprints the butterfly loop of the piezo-strain of the FE without magnetic-field bias.The E-field-controlled change in the TMR ratio is up to-0.27%without magnetic-field bias.Moreover,when a typical magnetic field(~±10 Oe)is applied along the minor axis of the MTJ,the butterfly loop is changed significantly by the E-fields relative to that without magnetic-field bias.This suggests that the E-field-controlled junction resistance is spin-dependent and correlated with magnetization switching in the free layer of the MTJ.In addition,based on such a multiferroic heterostructure,a strain-gauge factor up to approximately 40 is achieved,which decreases further with a sign change from positive to negative with increasing magnetic fields.This multiferroic hybrid structure is a promising avenue to control TMR through E-fields in low-power-consumption spintronic and straintronic devices at room temperature.
文摘We have presented here a simple model of magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ)device and the proposed MTJ model is utilizedfor validation purpose and also to study its tunnel magneto-resistance(TMR)effect by both simulation and experimentalmethod using an operational amplifier(OPAMP)based inverting amplifier.Experimental results substantiates both the simulatedand theoretical outcomes.
基金supported by the State Key Project of Fundamental Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology(Grant No. 2010CB934400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.10934099,51021061,and 11104338)+2 种基金the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(Grant No.50325104)the International Collaborative Research Programs between NSFC and EPSRC of the United Kingdom(Grant No.10911130234)between NSFC and ANR of France(Grant No.F040803)
文摘Spintronics has received a great attention and significant interest within the past decades,and provided considerable and remarked applications in industry and electronic information etc.In spintronics,the MgO based magnetic tunnel junction(MTJ) is an important research advancement because of its physical properties and excellent performance,such as the high TMR ratio in MgO based MTJs.We present an overview of more than a decade development in MgO based MTJs.The review contains three main sections.(1) Research of several types of MgO based MTJs,including single-crystal MgO barrier based-MTJs,double barrier MTJs,MgO based MTJs with interlayer,novel electrode material MTJs based on MgO,novel barrier based MTJs,novel barrier MTJs based on MgO,and perpendicular MTJs.(2) Some typical physical effects in MgO based MTJs,which include six observed physical effects in MgO based MTJs,namely spin transfer torque(STT) effect,Coulomb blockade magnetoresistance(CBMR) effect,oscillatory magnetoresistance,quantum-well resonance tunneling effect,electric field assisted magnetization switching effect,and spincaloric effect.(3) In the last section,a brief introduction of some important device applications of MgO based MTJs,such as GMR & TMR read heads and magneto-sensitive sensors,both field and current switching MRAM,spin nano oscillators,and spin logic devices,have been provided.
