Spin valves with co-ferrite pinning layer

A spin valve comprising:

• a ferromagnetic pinned layer;
• a ferromagnetic free layer;
• a non-magnetic conductive spacer layer located between the ferromagnetic free layer and the ferromagnetic pinned layer;
• and
• a pinning layer for pinning a magnetization of the ferromagnetic pinned layer, wherein the pinning layer comprises a cobalt ferrite.

A magnetoresistive (MR) read/write head comprising:

• a first shield contacting a first gap;
• a second shield contacting a second gap;
• and
• a magnetoresistive sensor disposed between the first and the second gaps
• wherein the magnetoresistive sensor includes one or more exchange-coupled magnetic structures, each exchange-coupled magnetic structure comprising:
• a ferromagnetic layer;
• and
• a cobalt-ferrite containing pinning layer in proximity to the ferromagnetic layer
• wherein an exchange bias field from the cobalt-ferrite layer biases a magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic layer.

A disk drive system comprising:

• a magnetic recording disk;
• a (MR) read/write head containing a magnetoresistive sensor;
• an actuator for moving the read/write head across the magnetic recording disk;
• and
• a motor for spinning the magnetic recording disk relative to the MR read/write head
• wherein the magnetoresistive sensor includes one or more exchange-coupled magnetic structures, each exchange-coupled magnetic structure comprising:
• a ferromagnetic layer;
• and
• a cobalt-ferrite containing pinning layer in proximity to the ferromagnetic layer
• wherein an exchange bias field from the cobalt-ferrite layer biases a magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic layer.