Fowler–Nordheim Tunneling in AlGaN MIS Heterostructures with Atomically Thin <i>h</i>-BN Layer Dependence and Performance Limits

Hexagonal Boron Nitride (<i>h</i>-BN) is an exceptional dielectric material with significant potential for high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. While previous studies have explored its role in GaN-based MIS (metal/insulator/semiconductor) structures, the influence of f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nanomaterials
Main Authors: Jiarui Zhang, Yikun Li, Shijun Luo, Yan Zhang, Man Luo, Hailu Wang, Chenhui Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/15/1209
Description
Summary:Hexagonal Boron Nitride (<i>h</i>-BN) is an exceptional dielectric material with significant potential for high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. While previous studies have explored its role in GaN-based MIS (metal/insulator/semiconductor) structures, the influence of few-layer <i>h</i>-BN on AlGaN MIS devices—particularly with varying Al compositions—remains unexplored. In this work, we systematically investigate the Fowler–Nordheim tunneling effect in few-layer <i>h</i>-BN integrated into AlGaN MIS architectures, focusing on the critical roles <i>h</i>-BN layer count, AlGaN alloy composition, and interfacial properties in determining device performance. Through combined simulations and experiments, we accurately determine key physical parameters, such as the layer-dependent effective mass and band alignment, and analyze their role in optimizing MIS device characteristics. Our findings reveal that the 2D <i>h</i>-BN insulating layer not only enhances breakdown voltage and reduces leakage current but also mitigates interfacial defects and Shockley–Read–Hall recombination, enabling high-performance AlGaN MIS devices under elevated voltage and power conditions. This study provides fundamental insights into <i>h</i>-BN-based AlGaN MIS structures and advances their applications in next-generation high-power and high-frequency electronics.
ISSN:2079-4991