Enhanced magnetoresistance ratio and improved thermal stability of specular spin valve multilayer with capping layer

摘要

Si/Ta/Ni-Fe/Mn-Ir/Co-Fe/NOL/Co-Fe/Cu/Co-Fe/Cu/capping bottom specular spin valves were prepared by using the DC magnetron sputtering method. We studied the effect of capping layers on the magnetic and thermal properties of specular spin valves. We can obtain a high magneto resistance ratio, high exchange bias field, and low interlayer coupling field by using Ta and Al capping layers. The thermal aging experiment showed that the Ta capping layer was more stable than the Al capping layer. We can obtain low interlayer coupling filed about 1 kA/m by using Al2O3 oxide capping layer. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.