摘要 |
A thin film lead structure resistant to resistance increase phenomenon resulting from contamination by mobile impurities. A thin film lead is disposed proximate to a getter layer material having a higher affinity for mobile impurities that the thin film lead. The getter layer material captures mobile impurities and prevents their migration into the thin film lead. The getter layer material may be formed over and in contact with the thin film lead, may be encapsulated within the thin film lead, or both. The getter layer material comprises a rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, scandium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, and ytterbium. The thin film lead is preferably tantalum, but may be selected from the group consisting of niobium, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and iron. An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a transition metal comprising titanium, zirconium, or hafnium as the getter layer. The capture of mobile impurities by the getter layer prevents resistance increase phenomenon and embrittlement to the thin film lead. The thin film lead may be used as a thin film lead to an electrical circuit, the sensor structure in a magnetic head.
|