Suppression of interlayer segregation in spin-valve NiFe/Cu/NiFe/FeMn multilayers

Experimental results show that Cu atoms can float out to or segregate to the NiFe/FeMn interface for Ta/NiFe/Cu/NiFe/FeMn/Ta spin-valve multilayers, which results in a drop of the exchange-coupling field (Hex) of NiFe/FeMn in the spin-valve multilayers. However, when a small amount of Bi atoms is deposited between the Cu and the pinned NiFe layers, Cu segregation to the NiFe/FeMn interface can be suppressed. At the same time, Hex of NiFe/FeMn in the spin-valve multilayers with a Bi interfacial layer can be effectively increased.