Abstract
We report on the new polycrystalline exchange bias system MnN/CoFe, which shows exchange bias of up to 1800 Oe at room temperature with a coercive field around 600 Oe. The room-temperature values of the interfacial exchange energy and the effective uniaxial anisotropy are estimated to be and . The thermal stability was found to be tunable by controlling the nitrogen content of MnN. The maximum blocking temperature exceeds , however the median blocking temperature in the limit of thick MnN is . Good oxidation stability through self-passivation was observed, enabling the use of MnN in lithographically defined microstructures. As a proof of principle we demonstrate a simple giant magnetoresistance stack exchange biased with MnN, which shows clear separation between parallel and antiparallel magnetic states. These properties come along with a surprisingly simple manufacturing process for the MnN films.
- Received 24 March 2015
- Revised 21 August 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.144408
©2015 American Physical Society