Dielectric characteristics of magnetic tunnel junctions using amorphous CoNbZr layers

Hongseog Kim, Junghyun Sok, B. K. Cho, Jang Roh Rhee, Wanjun Park, Taewan Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) consisting of amorphous CoNbZr layers have been investigated and compared with traditional MTJs using Ta layers. The amorphous CoNbZr layer was employed as a buffer layer under the pinning layer IrMn in TiN/CoNbZr/IrMn/CoFe/Ru/CoFe for better uniformity of barrier. To investigate the dependence of the reliability of the MTJs on the bottom electrode, we carried out time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) measurements under constant voltage stress. The Weibull fit of our data clearly shows that t BD scales with the thickness uniformity of MTJ's tunnel barrier. Assuming a linear dependence of log(t BD) on stress voltages, we obtained a lifetime of 10 4 years at an operating voltage of 0.4 V for MTJs with CoNbZr layers. This study shows that the reliability of the new MTJ structure was improved due to the ultrasmooth barrier because the surface roughness of the bottom electrode influenced the uniformity of the tunnel barrier.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1425-1428
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the Korean Physical Society
Volume46
Issue number6
StatePublished - Jun 2005

Keywords

  • CoNbZr film
  • Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs)
  • Time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dielectric characteristics of magnetic tunnel junctions using amorphous CoNbZr layers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this