Crystallization and grain growth behavior of CoFeB and MgO layers in multilayer magnetic tunnel junctions

The relationship between crystallization, grain growth behavior, and the diffusion of B out of CoFeB has been investigated in annealed film stacks of sputtered CoFeB∣MgO using a combination of two dimensional x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy (PEELS). The analysis shows grain growth in MgO layers. It shows crystallization at approximately 350°C, and subsequent grain growth in CoFeB layers with annealing. The orientations of the grains of MgO and CoFe are definitively shown to be (002) in the out-of-plane direction. The MgO lattice is seen to have an in-plane tensile stress, while CoFe lattice is shown to have an in-plane compressive stress. CoFe grains are observed to be smaller than MgO grains, rather than being of equal size as previously understood. The physical process of B diffusion into MgO has also been investigated using PEELS and is determined that the diffusion of B through MgO is mediated through vacancies and defect states by th...