Single Ferromagnetic Nanocontact Based Devices as Magnetic Field Sensors

摘要

The research program under designation SEED MM1593, funded by SERDP in a period of one year (03/01/2007 - 02/29/2008) has yielded positive results which can be briefly described as: (1) Successful development of ferromagnetic nanocontact material (metal-metal oxide/hydroxide) for magnetic nanocontact based magnetic field sensor fabrication; (2) Development and integration of electrodeposition, e-beam lithography and reactive ion etching processes necessary for fabrication of magnetic field sensor devices having the critical dimensions of approximately 30-40 nm (nanocontact diameter); (3) Fabrication and testing of 50+ prototype devices with an average value of magnetoresistance approximately 32%, measured at room temperature; (4) The immediate results produced during this research program have been published in two peer reviewed journal publications and presented at 2007 SERDP workshop in Washington DC. An additional publication with an indirect relevance to this program has been published as a result of a broader collaboration with other researchers in the ECE department, University of Houston. The novel device and ferromagnetic nanocontact material as well as the facile device fabrication concept have clearly demonstrated a cost effective route for transformative development of sensing devices for the underground munitions detection applications. The new sensing concept could have the great potential for further improvement of the US army detection systems.