Nano-oxide based current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive
(MR) sensor stacks are provided, together with methods for forming such stacks.
Such stacks have increased resistance and enhanced magnetoresistive properties
relative to CPP stacks made entirely of metallic layers. Said enhanced properties
are provided by the insertion of magnetic nano-oxide layers between ferromagnetic
layers and non-magnetic spacer layers, whereby said nano-oxide layers increase
resistance and exhibit spin filtering properties. CPP sensor stacks of various
types are provided, all having nano-oxide layers formed therein, including the
spin-valve type and the synthetic antiferromagnetic pinned layer spin-valve type.
Said stacks can also be formed upon each other to provide laminated stacks of different types.
