Double-barrier magnetic tunnel junctions with enhanced tunnel magnetoresistance

IF 3.5 2区物理与天体物理 Q2 PHYSICS, APPLIED Applied Physics Letters Pub Date : 2024-11-25 DOI:10.1063/5.0235559

Xiaohong Zheng, Shili Yang, Zhifan Zheng, Chun-Sheng Liu, Weiyang Wang, Lei Zhang

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Abstract

Tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio is a key parameter characterizing the performance of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), and a large TMR ratio is essential for the practical application of it. Generally, the traditional solutions to increasing the TMR ratio are to choose different material combinations as the ferromagnetic (FM) leads and nonmagnetic tunnel barrier. In this work, we study an architecture of MTJs of “FM/barrier/FM/barrier/FM” with double barriers, in contrast to the traditional single barrier structure “FM/barrier/FM.” We first analytically show that double barrier MTJ will generally have much higher TMR ratio than the single barrier MTJ and then substantiate it with the well-known example of “Fe/MgO/Fe” MTJ. Based on density functional calculations combined with nonequilibrium Green's function technique for quantum transport study, in the single barrier “Fe/MgO/Fe” MTJ, the TMR ratio is obtained as 122%, while in the double barrier “Fe/MgO/Fe/MgO/Fe” MTJ, it is greatly increased to 802%, suggesting that double barrier design can greatly enhance the TMR and can be taken into consideration in the design of MTJs.

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具有增强隧道磁阻的双势垒磁隧道结

隧道磁阻（TMR）比是表征磁隧道结（MTJ）性能的一个关键参数，大的 TMR 比对其实际应用至关重要。一般来说，提高 TMR 比的传统解决方案是选择不同的材料组合作为铁磁（FM）引线和非磁性隧道势垒。与传统的单势垒结构 "FM/势垒/FM "相比，我们在这项工作中研究了一种 "FM/势垒/FM/势垒/FM "的双势垒 MTJ 结构。我们首先通过分析表明，双势垒 MTJ 的 TMR 比通常要比单势垒 MTJ 高得多，然后以著名的 "Fe/MgO/Fe "MTJ 为例加以证明。基于密度泛函计算并结合非平衡格林函数技术进行量子输运研究，在单势垒 "Fe/MgO/Fe "MTJ 中，TMR 比为 122%，而在双势垒 "Fe/MgO/Fe/MgO/Fe "MTJ 中，TMR 比则大幅提高到 802%，这表明双势垒设计可大大提高 TMR，可在 MTJ 设计中加以考虑。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Physics Letters 物理-物理：应用

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

10.00%

发文量

1821

审稿时长

1.6 months

期刊介绍： Applied Physics Letters (APL) features concise, up-to-date reports on significant new findings in applied physics. Emphasizing rapid dissemination of key data and new physical insights, APL offers prompt publication of new experimental and theoretical papers reporting applications of physics phenomena to all branches of science, engineering, and modern technology. In addition to regular articles, the journal also publishes invited Fast Track, Perspectives, and in-depth Editorials which report on cutting-edge areas in applied physics. APL Perspectives are forward-looking invited letters which highlight recent developments or discoveries. Emphasis is placed on very recent developments, potentially disruptive technologies, open questions and possible solutions. They also include a mini-roadmap detailing where the community should direct efforts in order for the phenomena to be viable for application and the challenges associated with meeting that performance threshold. Perspectives are characterized by personal viewpoints and opinions of recognized experts in the field. Fast Track articles are invited original research articles that report results that are particularly novel and important or provide a significant advancement in an emerging field. Because of the urgency and scientific importance of the work, the peer review process is accelerated. If, during the review process, it becomes apparent that the paper does not meet the Fast Track criterion, it is returned to a normal track.