Fowler-Nordheim Tunneling in AlGaN MIS Heterostructures with Atomically Thin -BN Layer Dependence and Performance Limits.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride (-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 -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 -BN integrated into AlGaN MIS architectures, focusing on the critical roles -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 -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 -BN-based AlGaN MIS structures and advances their applications in next-generation high-power and high-frequency electronics.