Susceptibility of CoFeB/AlOx/Co Magnetic Tunnel Junctions to Low-Frequency Alternating Current

Abstract

This investigation studies CoFeB/AlOx/Co magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) in the magnetic field of a low-frequency alternating current, for various thicknesses of the barrier layer AlOx. The low-frequency alternate-current magnetic susceptibility (χac) and phase angle (θ) of the CoFeB/AlOx/Co MTJ are determined using an χac analyzer. The driving frequency ranges from 10 to 25,000 Hz. These multilayered MTJs are deposited on a silicon substrate using a DC and RF magnetron sputtering system. Barrier layer thicknesses are 22, 26, and 30 Å. The X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) include a main peak at 2θ = 44.7° from hexagonal close-packed (HCP) Co with a highly (0002) textured structure, with AlOx and CoFeB as amorphous phases. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the Co(0002) peak, decreases as the AlOx thickness increases; revealing that the Co layer becomes more crystalline with increasing thickness. χac result demonstrates that the optimal resonance frequency (fres) that maximizes the χac value is 500 Hz. As the frequency increases to 1000 Hz, the susceptibility decreases rapidly. However, when the frequency increases over 1000 Hz, the susceptibility sharply declines, and almost closes to zero. The experimental results reveal that the mean optimal susceptibility is 1.87 at an AlOx barrier layer thickness of 30 Å because the Co(0002) texture induces magneto-anisotropy, which improves the indirect CoFeB and Co spin exchange-coupling strength and the χac value. The results concerning magnetism indicate that the magnetic characteristics are related to the crystallinity of Co.

Magnetic Nanomaterials and Their Applications

“…Chen et al [ 3 , 4 ] have published two papers on the properties of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB and CoFeB/AlOx/Co Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs). In one paper, the MgO barrier layer thickness in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB MTJs was varied to measure low-frequency alternate-current magnetic susceptibility and magnetic properties.…”

“…Moreover in this work it was demonstrated that the indirect spin exchange coupling of top CoFeB and bottom CoFeB layers in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB oscillates [ 3 ]. Similarly, in the other paper, the CoFeB/AlO x /Co multilayer film was used to investigate the strength of indirect spin exchange-coupling between CoFeB and Co strength and the χ ac in a low-frequency alternating magnetic field, for various thicknesses of the barrier layer AlO x [ 4 ]. It was found that the maximum χ ac value is obtained at the optimal frequency of 500 Hz.…”