PATTERNING METAL STACK LAYERS OF MAGNETIC SWITCHING DEVICE, UTILIZING A BILAYER METAL HARDMASK

摘要

The invention relates to magnetic switching devices, and more particularly to a method for patterning metal stack layers of a magnetic switching device utilizing TiN and W as a bilayer metal hardmask (7, 8) patterned in two lithography steps with concommitant hardmask open etch and resist strip steps. The hardmask materials TiN and W are chosen so that the mask open etch chemistry is designed with good selectivity, thereby enabling patterning of the hardmask layers prior to etching of the metal stack layers.