Abstract
Magnetic tunnel junctions with a Co2MnSi/Al-O/CoFe structure are prepared by magnetron sputtering and investigated with respect to the energy gap near the Fermi energy level. The plasma oxidation time for the Al-O barrier is found to affect the condition of the Co2MnSi/Al-O interface. The optimized sample (50 s oxidation time) exhibits a magnetoresistance ratio of 159% and tunneling spin polarization of 0.89 at 2 K. The bias voltage dependence of tunneling conductance (dI/dV-V) reveals a clear half-metallic energy gap at 350-400 meV for Co2MnSi, with an energy separation of just 10 meV between the Fermi energy and the bottom edge of conduction band.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 052508 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 Sep 15 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)