Perpendicularly magnetized ferromagnetic layers having an oxide interface allowing for improved control of oxidation

A magnetic structure formed on a substrate and comprising a ferromagnetic layer that is a reference layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) that is formed between a non-ferromagnetic metallic (NM) layer that is one of Mo, W, and NiCr, and a first oxide layer (OL1) wherein the ferromagnetic layer comprises:

• (a) a first ferromagnetic sub-layer (FML1);
• (b) a first non-magnetic layer (NML1) that is one of Sr, and Ba;
• and
• (c) a second ferromagnetic sub-layer (FML2) to give a FML1/NML1/FML2 configuration wherein the ferromagnetic layer (FML) contacts the OL1 to generate PMA in the FML layer.

A magnetic structure formed on a substrate and comprising a ferromagnetic (FM) layer that is a free layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) wherein the FM layer has a first surface contacting a non-ferromagnetic metallic (NM) layer that is one or more of W, Mo, and NiCr, and a second surface that contacts a first oxide layer (OL1), wherein the FM layer comprises:

• (a) a first ferromagnetic sub-layer (FML1) formed on OL1;
• (b) a first non-magnetic layer (NML1) that is one of Sr, and Ba;
• and
• (c) a second ferromagnetic sub-layer (FML2) to give a FML1/NML1/FML2 configuration where FML2 is an uppermost magnetic layer in the magnetic structure and contacts a bottom surface of the NM layer.

A magnetic structure comprising a ferromagnetic layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) that is formed between a substrate and a first oxide layer (OL1) wherein the ferromagnetic layer comprises:

• (a) a first ferromagnetic sub-layer (FML1);
• (b) a first non-magnetic layer (NML1) that is one of Sr, and Ba;
• and
• (c) a second ferromagnetic sub-layer (FML2) where one or both of FML1 and FML2 have a (Co/X)m or (X/Co)m composition where m is a lamination number from 1 to 30, and X is Ni, NiCo, Ni/Pt, or NiFe to give a FML1/NML1/FML2 configuration wherein the ferromagnetic layer (FML) contacts the OL1 to generate PMA in the FML layer.