Structure and magnetoresistive properties of current-perpendicular-to-plane pseudo-spin valves using polycrystalline Co2fe-based heusler alloy films

T. M. Nakatani; Ye Du; Y. K. Takahashi; T. Furubayashi; K. Hono

doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2013.03.001

Structure and magnetoresistive properties of current-perpendicular-to-plane pseudo-spin valves using polycrystalline Co₂fe-based heusler alloy films

T. M. Nakatani, Ye Du, Y. K. Takahashi, T. Furubayashi, K. Hono^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) of pseudo-spin valves (PSVs) with polycrystalline Co₂Fe(Al _0.5Si_0.5) (CFAS) and Co₂Fe(Ga _0.5Ge_0.5) (CFGG) Heusler alloy films. Strongly [0 1 1] textured polycrystalline Heusler alloy films grew on the Ta/Ru/Ag underlayer. Relatively large CPP-GMR values of ΔRA up to 4 mΩ μm² and ΔR/R up to 10% were obtained with 5 nm thick Heusler alloy films and Ag spacer layer by annealing CFAS PSV at 450 C and CFGG PSV at 350 C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a flat and sharp interface between the [0 1 1] textured CFAS layers and the [1 1 1] textured Ag spacer layer. Annealing above an optimal temperature for each PSV led to reductions in MR values as a result of the thickening of the spacer layer induced by the Ag diffusion from the outer Ag layers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3695-3702
Number of pages	8
Journal	Acta Materialia
Volume	61
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2013.03.001
Publication status	Published - 2013 Jun
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Giant magnetoresistance CPP-GMR Heusler alloy Spin valve

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Ceramics and Composites
Polymers and Plastics
Metals and Alloys

Access to Document

10.1016/j.actamat.2013.03.001

Cite this

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title = "Structure and magnetoresistive properties of current-perpendicular-to-plane pseudo-spin valves using polycrystalline Co2fe-based heusler alloy films",

abstract = "We report current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) of pseudo-spin valves (PSVs) with polycrystalline Co2Fe(Al 0.5Si0.5) (CFAS) and Co2Fe(Ga 0.5Ge0.5) (CFGG) Heusler alloy films. Strongly [0 1 1] textured polycrystalline Heusler alloy films grew on the Ta/Ru/Ag underlayer. Relatively large CPP-GMR values of ΔRA up to 4 mΩ μm2 and ΔR/R up to 10% were obtained with 5 nm thick Heusler alloy films and Ag spacer layer by annealing CFAS PSV at 450 C and CFGG PSV at 350 C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a flat and sharp interface between the [0 1 1] textured CFAS layers and the [1 1 1] textured Ag spacer layer. Annealing above an optimal temperature for each PSV led to reductions in MR values as a result of the thickening of the spacer layer induced by the Ag diffusion from the outer Ag layers.",

keywords = "Giant magnetoresistance CPP-GMR Heusler alloy Spin valve",

author = "Nakatani, {T. M.} and Ye Du and Takahashi, {Y. K.} and T. Furubayashi and K. Hono",

note = "Funding Information: This work was partly supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) (Grant No. 22246091 ) and IDEMA-ASTC. T.M.N. was supported by the JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists. Y.D. acknowledges NIMS for the provision of NIMS Junior Research Assistantship.",

year = "2013",

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doi = "10.1016/j.actamat.2013.03.001",

language = "English",

volume = "61",

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journal = "Acta Materialia",

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AU - Nakatani, T. M.

AU - Du, Ye

AU - Takahashi, Y. K.

AU - Furubayashi, T.

AU - Hono, K.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was partly supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) (Grant No. 22246091 ) and IDEMA-ASTC. T.M.N. was supported by the JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists. Y.D. acknowledges NIMS for the provision of NIMS Junior Research Assistantship.

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - We report current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) of pseudo-spin valves (PSVs) with polycrystalline Co2Fe(Al 0.5Si0.5) (CFAS) and Co2Fe(Ga 0.5Ge0.5) (CFGG) Heusler alloy films. Strongly [0 1 1] textured polycrystalline Heusler alloy films grew on the Ta/Ru/Ag underlayer. Relatively large CPP-GMR values of ΔRA up to 4 mΩ μm2 and ΔR/R up to 10% were obtained with 5 nm thick Heusler alloy films and Ag spacer layer by annealing CFAS PSV at 450 C and CFGG PSV at 350 C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a flat and sharp interface between the [0 1 1] textured CFAS layers and the [1 1 1] textured Ag spacer layer. Annealing above an optimal temperature for each PSV led to reductions in MR values as a result of the thickening of the spacer layer induced by the Ag diffusion from the outer Ag layers.

AB - We report current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) of pseudo-spin valves (PSVs) with polycrystalline Co2Fe(Al 0.5Si0.5) (CFAS) and Co2Fe(Ga 0.5Ge0.5) (CFGG) Heusler alloy films. Strongly [0 1 1] textured polycrystalline Heusler alloy films grew on the Ta/Ru/Ag underlayer. Relatively large CPP-GMR values of ΔRA up to 4 mΩ μm2 and ΔR/R up to 10% were obtained with 5 nm thick Heusler alloy films and Ag spacer layer by annealing CFAS PSV at 450 C and CFGG PSV at 350 C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a flat and sharp interface between the [0 1 1] textured CFAS layers and the [1 1 1] textured Ag spacer layer. Annealing above an optimal temperature for each PSV led to reductions in MR values as a result of the thickening of the spacer layer induced by the Ag diffusion from the outer Ag layers.

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