Exchange bias of spin valve structure with a top-pinned Co40Fe40B20∕IrMn

Abstract

We have investigated the exchange bias of a directly top-pinned Co40Fe40B20∕IrMn structure. An exchange bias was realized on the as-deposited samples, in which Co40Fe40B20 exhibits a fully amorphous structure. A current-in-plane giant magnetoresistance effect was demonstrated on simple Ru∕CoFeB∕Cu∕CoFeB∕IrMn∕Ru stacks prior to and after annealing. The amorphous CoFeB layer partially crystallized from the interface with a Cu spacer layer after annealed at 280°C.