SiC – The New Silicon?
Driven by the energy transition and electromobility, there is currently a rapidly growing demand for electronic components for the particularly low-loss conversion of electrical energy. A prominent topic in semiconductor technology is therefore WBG or wide-bandgap semiconductors, such as silicon carbide, gallium nitride or aluminum nitride. They can handle high voltages at very low forward losses and thus offer the best prerequisites for building highly efficient power electronic systems.
Among WBG semiconductor materials, silicon carbide (SiC) has become particularly popular, and a wide range of commercial products is already available. In applications where the highest power densities and highest power conversion efficiencies are required, SiC devices with their superior electrical properties are already displacing conventional silicon power electronics. This is the case, for example, with the on-board networks and drive electronics of electric vehicles or the connection of renewable energy sources to the public power grid.