Improved corrosion resistance of IrMn antiferromagnets for spin valve applications by alloying with Cr and Ru

Abstract

IrMn is an attractive antiferromagnet for spin valve applications due to its low critical thickness (80Å). One of its drawbacks, though, is its susceptibility to corrosion. This is a result of the large Mn concentration in the disordered alloy. In this study, we present results for the magnetic and corrosion properties of IrMn doped with Cr and Ru.