• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.124-127
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• 2007

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), which consisted of amorphous CoFeSiB layers, were investigated. The CoFeSiB layers were used to substitute for the traditionally used CoFe and/or NiFe layers with an emphasis given on understanding the effect of the amorphous free layer on the switching characteristics of the MTJs. CoFeSiB has a lower saturation magnetization ($M_s\;:\;560\;emu/cm^3$) and a higher anisotropy constant ($K_u\;:\;2800\;erg/cm^3$) than CoFe and NiFe, respectively. An exchange coupling energy ($J_{ex}$) of $-0.003\;erg/cm^2$ was observed by inserting a 1.0 nm Ru layer in between CoFeSiB layers. In the Si/$SiO_2$/Ta 45/Ru 9.5/IrMn 10/CoFe 7/$AlO_x$/CoFeSiB 7 or CoFeSiB (t)/Ru 1.0/CoFeSiB (7-t)/Ru 60 (in nm) MTJs structure, it was found that the size dependence of the switching field originated in the lower $J_{ex}$ using the experimental and simulation results. The CoFeSiB synthetic antiferromagnet structures were proved to be beneficial for the switching characteristics such as reducing the coercivity ($H_c$) and increasing the sensitivity in micrometer size, even in submicrometer sized elements.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2006

Recent experiments have demonstrated high TMR ratios in MTJs with the MgO barrier [1,2]. The CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB junctions showed better properties than the CoFe/MgO/CoFe junctions because the MgO layer had a good crystalline structure with (001) texture and smooth and sharp interface between CoFeB/MgO [3]. The amorphous CoFeB with 20 at%B starts the crystallization at $340^{\circ}C$ [4] and this crystallization of the CoFeB helps obtaining the high TMR ratio. In this work, the compositional changes in the MgO barrier and at the interface of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB after the CoFeB crystallization were studied in annealed MTJs. XPS depth profiles were utilized. TEM analyses showed that the MgO barrier had (100) texture on CoFeB in the junctions. B in the bottom CoFeB layer diffused into the MgO barrier and B-oxide was formed at the interface of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB after the CoFeB crystallization.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.315-319
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• 2005

To obtain low switching field ($H_{SW}$) we introduced amorphous ferromagnetic $Co_{70.5}Fe_{4,5}Si_{15}B_{10}$ single and synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) free layers in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). The switching characteristics for MTJs with structures $Si/SiO_2/Ta$ 45/Ru 9.5/IrMn 10/CoFe 7/AlOx/CoFeSiB 7 or CoFeSiB (t)/Ru 1.0/CoFeSiB (7-t)/Ru 60 (in nm) were investigated and compared to MTJs with $Co_{75}Fe_{25}$ and $Ni_{80}Fe_{20}$ free layers. CoFeSiB showed a lower saturation magnetization of $560 emu/cm^3$ and a higher anisotropy constant of $2800\;erg/cm^3$ than CoFe and NiFe, respectively. An exchange coupling energy ($J_{ex}$) of $-0.003erg/cm^2$ was observed by inserting a 1.0 nm Ru layer in between CoFeSiB layers. In the CoFeSiB single and SAF free layer MTJs, it was frond that the size dependence of the $H_{SW}$ originated from the lower $J_{ex}$ experimentally and by micromagnetic simulation based on the Landau-Lisfschitz-Gilbert equation. The CoFeSiB SAF structures showed lower $H_{SW}$ than that of NiFe, CoFe and CoFeSiB single structures. The CoFeSiB SAF structures were proved to be beneficial far the switching characteristics such as reducing the coercivity and increasing the sensitivity in micrometer to submicrometer-sized elements.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.60-68
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• 1991

In compacting the melt-spun $Nd_{14}Fe_{76}Co_{4}B_{6}$ and $Nd_{10.5}Fe_{79}Co_{2}Zr_{15}B_{7}$ magnetic powders. the difference in composition induces a different behavior of closed packing rate as a function of aspect ratio of the powders. The $Nd_{10.5}Fe_{79}Co_{2}Zr_{1.5}B_{7}$ alloy having a low Co/Fe ratio (low density) shows the better green density to have an enhanced closed packing rate. An empirical power equation relating the green density with the compacting pressure was obtained such as ${\phi}(g/cm^{2})=5.2~5.6{\times}P^{0.045~0.065}(ton/cm^{2})$. The $Nd_{14}Fe_{76}Co_{4}B_{6}$ alloy having a high Nd/Fe ratio possesses much finer grain size(50~60 nm) than that of $Nd_{10.5}Fe_{79}Co_{2}Zr_{1.5}B_{7}$ alloy and shows the higher coercivity($iH_{c}=14~15kOe$). The higher Nd/Fe ratio in the melt-spun Nd-Fe-Co-B alloy, where the domain wall pinning mechanism was found to be predominant, assists the formation of Nd-rich grain boundary phase acting as a pinning site. The grain boundary ranges over $12~16\;{\AA}$ thick in the Nd-Fe-Co-B alloy while it ranges over $8~12\;{\AA}$ thick in the Nd-Fe-Co-Zr-B alloy.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.143-146
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• 2002

Mechanical milling technique is considered to be a useful way of processing the fine Nd-Fe-B-type powder with high coercivity. In the present study, phase evolution of the $Nd_{15}(Fe_{1-x}Co_{x})_{77}B_{8}$ (x=0-0.6) alloys during the high energy mechanical milling and annealing was investigated. The effect of Co-substitution on the crystallization of the mechanically milled $Nd_{15}(Fe_{1-x}Co_{x})_{77}B_{8}$ amorphous material was examined. The Nd-Fe-B-type alloys can be amorphized completely by a high-energy mechanical milling. On annealing of the amorphous material, fine $\alpha$-Fe crystallites form first from the amorphous. These fine $\alpha$-Fe crystallites reacts with the remaining amorphous afterwards, leading to crystallization to $Nd_2Fe_{14}$B phase. The Co-substitution for Fe in $Nd_{15}(Fe_{1-x}Co_{x})_{77}B_{8}$ ($\mu$x=0∼0.6) alloys lower significantly the crystallization temperature of the amorphous phase to the $Nd_2Fe_{14}$B phase. The mechanically milled and annealed $Nd_{15}Fe_{77}B_8$ alloy without Co-substitution exhibits consistently better magnetic properties with respect to the alloys with Co-substitution.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.162-165
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• 2007

We investigated the effects of the capping layer materials on the crystallization of the amorphous top-CoFeB (t-CoFeB) electrode and the magnetoresistance properties of the magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). When the hcp(002)-textured Ru capping layer was used, the amorphous t-CoFeB was crystallized to bcc-CoFe(110). The CoFe(110)/Ru(002) texture relation can be minimized the lattice mismatch down to 5.6%. However, when the fine polycrystalline but almost amorphous TiAl or amorphous ZrAl were used, the amorphous t-CoFeB was crystallized to bcc-CoFe(002). When the amorphous capping materials were used, the evolution of the t-CoFeB texture was affected mainly by the MgO(001) texture. Consequently, the M ratios of the annealed MTJ capped with the ZrAl and TiAl (72.7 and 71.8%) are relatively higher than that of the MTJ with Ru capping layer (46.7%). In conclusions, the texture evolution of the amorphous t-CoFeB during the post deposition annealing could be controlled by the crystallinity of the adjacent capping layer and in turn, it affects the TMR ratio of MTJs.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.276-278
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• 2006

The switching characteristics of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) comprising amorphous ferromagnetic CoFeSiB free layer have been investigated. CoFeSiB was used for the free layer to enhance the switching characteristics. The typical junction structure was $Si/SiO_{2}/Ta$ 45/Ru 9.5/IrMn 10/CoFe $7/AlO_{x}/CoFeSiB\;(t)/Ru\;60\;(in\;nm)$. CoFeSiB has low saturation magnetization ($M_{s}$) of $560\;emu/cm^{3}$ and high anisotropy constant ($K_{u}$) of $2800\;erg/cm^{3}$. These properties caused low coercivity ($H_{c}$) and high sensitivity in MTJs, and it also confirmed in submicrometer-sized elements by micromagnetic simulation based on the Landau-Lisfschitz-Gilbert equation. By increasing CoFeSiB free layer thickness, the switching characteristics became worse due to increase of the demagnetization field.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.154-158
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• 1999

Magnetic properties and microstructure of nanocrystalline $\alpha$-(Fe, Co)-based Nd-(Fe, Co)-B-Nb-Cu alloys have been investigated. $Nd_x(Fe_{0.9}Co_{0.1})_{90-x}B_6Nb_3Cu_1$(x=2, 3, 4, 5, 6) alloys prepared by rapid solidification process show amorphous phase except the one with x=2. By a proper annealing, the amorphous in the alloy is changed to a nanocrystalline phase. It is confirmed that the nanocrystalline alloys are composed of $\alpha$-(Fe, Co) and $Nd_2(Fe, Co)_{14}B_1$ phase. The optimally annealed $Nd_3(Fe_{0.9}Co_{0.1})_87B_6Nb_3Cu_1$ alloy shows the highest remanence of 1.55 T. The coercivity increases with the increase of Nd content The maximum coercivity of 4.6 kOe is obtained from an optimally annealed $Nd_6(Fe_{0.9}Co_{0.1})_84B_6Nb_3Cu_1$ alloy, resulting in the maximum energy product of 10.6 MGOe.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.888-892
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• 2004

It is necessary to develop soft magnetic layer with high saturation magnetization 4 $\pi{M}_s$ and in-plane magnetic anisotropy field Hk for soft magnetic underlayer of perpendicular magnetic recording media with high signal to noise ratio. Fe-Co-B layer with high 4 $\pi$Ms of about 23 kG deposited on Ni-Fe and Ni-Fe/Si seedlayer exhibited very high in-plane magnetic anisotropy filed Hk of about 280 and 380 Oe, respectively, In-plane XRD studies clarified that the lattice spacing of planes along the easy axis direction was longer than that along the hard axis direction in the Fe-Co-B layers with high Hk. These results indicate that high Hk of Fe-Co-B/Ni-Fe and Fe-Co-B/［Ni-Fe/si］ layers were resulted from magnetoelastic anisotropy owing to a residual stress. Moreover, the high Hk in the Fe-Co-B/Ni-Fe layer was maintained until 30$0^{\circ}C$ annealing temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.279-282
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• 2006

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), which consisted of amorphous ferromagnetic NiFeSiB free layers, were investigated. The NiFeSiB layers were used to substitute for the traditionally used CoFe and/or NiFe layers with the emphasis being given to obtaining an understanding of the effect of the amorphous free layer on the switching characteristics of the MTJs. $Ni_{16}Fe_{62}Si_{8}B_{14}$ has a lower saturation magnetization ($M_{s}:\;800\;emu/cm^{3}$) than $Co_{90}Fe_{10}$ and a higher anisotropy constant ($K_{u}:\;2700\;erg/cm^{3}$) than $Ni_{80}Fe_{20}$. The $Si/SiO_{2}/Ta$ 45/Ru 9.5/IrMn 10/CoFe $7/AlO_{x}/CoFeSiB\;(t)/Ru\;60\;(in\;nanometers)$structure was found to be beneficial for the switching characteristics of the MTJ, leading to a reduction in the coercivity ($H_{c}$) and an increase in the sensitivity resulted from its lower saturation magnetization and higher uniaxial anisotropy. Furthermore, by inserting a very thin CoFe layer at the tunnel barrier/NiFeSiB interface, the TMR ratio and switching squareness were improved more with the increase of NiFeSiB layer thickness up to 11 nm.