Power-Switching Applications Beyond Silicon: The Status and Future Prospects of SiC and GaN Devices

Abstract

Following a review of the key power-switch requirements and the fundamental limitations of silicon as a material, this paper describes the technical issues and the reasons that motivated the development of commercially available Schottky diodes and MOSFETs in SiC. In the second part, the paper analyzes the potential of GaN to enable further technical progress beyond the theoretical limit of Si and even significant price reduction of power-electronic switches.