Interface engineering during MGO deposition for magnetic tunnel junctions

• Main Authors: Draeger, Nerissa Sue, Nardi, Katie Lynn
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.06.2018
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM,CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THERARE-EARTH METALS; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; INFORMATION STORAGE; INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORDCARRIER AND TRANSDUCER; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; PHYSICS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION

Methods of fabricating magnetic devices are described herein. Methods involve exposing a magnetic film, such as a CoFeB film, to a reducing agent before, during, or after depositing a metal oxide film using atomic layer deposition or chemical vapor deposition. Some methods include exposing the magnetic film in cycles involving exposure to a reducing agent, exposure to a magnesium-containing precursor, and exposure to an oxidant. Methods are suitable for depositing a magnesium oxide layer on a CoFeB layer to form part of a magnetic tunnel junction.