Designed synthesis of materials for high-sensitivity geomagnetic sensors

Ding L., Teng J., Wang X.C., Feng C., Jiang Y., Yu G.H., Wang S.G., Ward R.C.C.
Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing; State Key Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, OX1 3PU Oxford, United Kingdom

Abstract: A structure of Ta/MgO/NiFe/MgO/Ta was designed and synthesized, which combines the advantages of both tunnel magnetoresistance materials with high magnetic field sensitivity and anisotropic magnetoresistance materials with high directional sensitivity. The magnetoresistance ratio in the device with structure of Ta(5)/MgO(4)/NiFe(10)/MgO(3)/Ta(3) (thicknesses in nanometers) increases with an increase in annealing temperature, reaching a maximum value of 3.5% at 450°C, and then decreases with a further increase in annealing temperature. Meanwhile, a high sensitivity of 2.1%/Oe is obtained. The higher magnetoresistance ratio and sensitivity come from the significant specular reflection of electrons at both interfaces due to the crystalline MgO layer together with the sharp interfaces with the NiFe layer. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Year: 2010
Source title: Applied Physics Letters
Volume: 96
Issue: 5
Art. No.: 52515
Link: Scorpus Link
Document Type: Article
Source: Scopus
 Authors with affiliations:
  1. Ding, L., Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing
  2. Teng, J., Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing
  3. Wang, X.C., Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing
  4. Feng, C., Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing
  5. Jiang, Y., Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing
  6. Yu, G.H., Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing
  7. Wang, S.G., State Key Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China, Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, OX1 3PU Oxford, United Kingdom
  8. Ward, R.C.C., Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, OX1 3PU Oxford, United Kingdom
Download Abstract: geo33.pdf