Provided is a sputtering target or a film which is characterized by containing 0.1 to 10 mol % of an oxide of one or more types selected from FeO, Fe.sub.3O.sub.4, K.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, PbO, and ZnO, 5 to 70 mol % of Pt, and the remainder being Fe. The present invention addresses the issue of providing a sputtering target capable of considerably reducing the particles caused by nonmagnetic materials and significantly improving the yield during deposition. It is thereby possible to deposit a quality magnetic recording layer and improve yield of a magnetic recording medium.

A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, the tunnel barrier layer is expressed by a composition formula of AB.sub.2O.sub.x (0<x?4), and has a spinel structure in which cations are arranged in a disordered manner, the tunnel barrier layer has a lattice-matched portion and a lattice-mismatched portion, A is a divalent cation of plural non-magnetic elements, B is an aluminum ion, and in the composition formula, the number of the divalent cation is smaller than half the number of the aluminum ion.

A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, the tunnel barrier layer is expressed by a composition formula of AB.sub.2O.sub.x (0<x?4), and has a spinel structure in which cations are arranged in a disordered manner, the tunnel barrier layer has a lattice-matched portion and a lattice-mismatched portion, A is a divalent cation of plural non-magnetic elements, B is an aluminum ion, and in the composition formula, the number of the divalent cation is smaller than half the number of the aluminum ion.

A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is disclosed wherein first and second interfaces of a free layer (FL) with a first metal oxide (Hk enhancing layer) and second metal oxide (tunnel barrier), respectively, produce perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) to increase thermal stability. In some embodiments, a continuous or discontinuous metal (M) or MQ alloy layer within the FL reacts with scavenged oxygen to form a partially oxidized metal or alloy layer that enhances PMA and maintains acceptable RA. M is one of Mg, Al, B, Ca, Ba, Sr, Ta, Si, Mn, Ti, Zr, or Hf, and Q is a transition metal, B, C, or Al. Methods are also provided for forming composite free layers where interfacial perpendicular anisotropy is generated therein by contact of the free layer with oxidized materials.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to logic devices, and more particularly, to magnetoelectric magnetic tunneling junction computational devices. Aspects of the disclosed technology include a stand-alone voltage-controlled magnetoelectric device that satisfies essential requirements for general logic applications, including nonlinearity, gain, concatenability, feedback prevention, and a complete set of Boolean operations based on the majority gate and inverter. Aspects of the present disclosed technology can eliminate the need for any auxiliary FETs to preset or complicated clocking schemes and prevents the racing condition.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to logic devices, and more particularly, to magnetoelectric magnetic tunneling junction computational devices. Aspects of the disclosed technology include a stand-alone voltage-controlled magnetoelectric device that satisfies essential requirements for general logic applications, including nonlinearity, gain, concatenability, feedback prevention, and a complete set of Boolean operations based on the majority gate and inverter. Aspects of the present disclosed technology can eliminate the need for any auxiliary FETs to preset or complicated clocking schemes and prevents the racing condition.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to logic devices, and more particularly, to magnetoelectric magnetic tunneling junction computational devices. Aspects of the disclosed technology include a stand-alone voltage-controlled magnetoelectric device that satisfies essential requirements for general logic applications, including nonlinearity, gain, concatenability, feedback prevention, and a complete set of Boolean operations based on the majority gate and inverter. Aspects of the present disclosed technology can eliminate the need for any auxiliary FETs to preset or complicated clocking schemes and prevents the racing condition.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to logic devices, and more particularly, to magnetoelectric magnetic tunneling junction computational devices. Aspects of the disclosed technology include a stand-alone voltage-controlled magnetoelectric device that satisfies essential requirements for general logic applications, including nonlinearity, gain, concatenability, feedback prevention, and a complete set of Boolean operations based on the majority gate and inverter. Aspects of the present disclosed technology can eliminate the need for any auxiliary FETs to preset or complicated clocking schemes and prevents the racing condition.

A magnetic tunnel junction with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA MTJ) is disclosed wherein a free layer interfaces with a tunnel barrier and has a second interface with an oxide layer. A lattice-matching layer adjoins an opposite side of the oxide layer with respect to the free layer and is comprised of Co.sub.XFe.sub.YNi.sub.ZL.sub.WM.sub.V or an oxide or nitride of Ru, Ta, Ti, or Si, wherein L is one of B, Zr, Nb, Hf, Mo, Cu, Cr, Mg, Ta, Ti, Au, Ag, or P, and M is one of Mo, Mg, Ta, Cr, W, or V, (x+y+z+w+v)=100 atomic %, x+y>0, and each of v and w are >0. The lattice-matching layer grows a BCC structure during annealing thereby promoting BCC structure growth in the oxide layer that results in enhanced free layer PMA and improved thermal stability.

A magnetic tunnel junction with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA MTJ) is disclosed wherein a free layer interfaces with a tunnel barrier and has a second interface with an oxide layer. A lattice-matching layer adjoins an opposite side of the oxide layer with respect to the free layer and is comprised of Co.sub.XFe.sub.YNi.sub.ZL.sub.WM.sub.V or an oxide or nitride of Ru, Ta, Ti, or Si, wherein L is one of B, Zr, Nb, Hf, Mo, Cu, Cr, Mg, Ta, Ti, Au, Ag, or P, and M is one of Mo, Mg, Ta, Cr, W, or V, (x+y+z+w+v)=100 atomic %, x+y>0, and each of v and w are >0. The lattice-matching layer grows a BCC structure during annealing thereby promoting BCC structure growth in the oxide layer that results in enhanced free layer PMA and improved thermal stability.