Micromagnetic Simulations of CoFeB/MgO Perpendicular Stacks for Sensor Applications

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 59; no. 11; p. 1
• Main Authors: Santos, Pedro, Araujo, Pedro, Sorensen, Daniel, Matos, Francisco, Freitas, Paulo P., Cardoso, Susana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-11-2023; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Anisotropy; Behavioral sciences; CoFeB/MgO thin films; Demagnetization Field; Film thickness; Interfacial Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy; Magnesium oxide; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic devices; Magnetic hysteresis; Magnetic properties; Magnetism; Micromagnetism; Optimization; Performance enhancement; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Saturation magnetization; Sensors; Temperature dependence; Thermal Stability; Thin films
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2023.3285419

In this work, micromagnetic simulations are used to investigate the magnetic behavior of CoFeB/MgO thin films with perpendicular anisotropy, targeting the optimization for out-of-plane (OOP) magnetic field detection applications. We explore various experimentally viable combinations of interfacial anisotropy, CoFeB film thickness, and device dimensions to assess their influence on magnetic performance. Our findings reveal the crucial roles of CoFeB film thickness and interfacial anisotropy in determining the temperature-dependent magnetic behavior of CoFeB/MgO thin films. Additionally, the study highlights the significance of geometry and thickness variations for fine-tuning magnetic device performance, with interfacial anisotropy serving as a secondary tuning parameter. This research offers valuable guidance for understanding OOP magnetic systems, particularly those based on CoFeB/MgO thin films, and paves the way for the development of advanced sensing devices with enhanced performance and reliability across a wide range of temperatures.