Epitaxial growth of NaCl on Fe (100) and characterization of Fe/NaCl/Fe magnetic tunnel junctions

Abstract

Growth of NaCl and Fe/NaCl/Fe Magnetic tunneling junctions on Si (100) has been achieved by using a high vacuum electron-beam deposition system. Epitaxial tunnel junctions turn out to be prone to pinholes as well as electrode oxidation. Instead, the best tunneling magnetoresistance we have achieved in this system is on polycrystalline tunnel barriers with thin Mg insertion, and reaching 22.3% at room temperature.