Why SiC is used in Semiconductors?

SiC power semiconductors, simply put, are high-performance components which can handle extremely high voltages, currents, and frequencies. Power transmission and distribution, renewable energy, automotive and transportation, consumer electronics, & other industrial applications are the primary industries that benefit from SiC power semiconductors. It is critical to the sustainable and efficient use of energy, and it can transport energy over long distances with minimal losses.

Vital Facts about SiC Power Semiconductors

In some critical applications, silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors process electricity more efficiently than traditional semiconductors. As a result, the new technology is of particular interest to electric car manufacturers: improved battery control, thanks to SiC semiconductors, helps save energy, greatly increasing the range of electric cars. SiC-based semiconductors also allow for faster recharge. Every electric vehicle now contains a large number of semiconductors. With their advantages of switching speed, heat loss, and compact size, SiC variants may be on the rise in the future. Other businesses, including mobile network operators, smartphone manufacturers, and the automation industry, have high hopes for these tiny chips.

Why SiC is used in Semiconductors?

• Silicon Carbide is also commonly known as Carborundum, which is a trade name that is sometimes used incorrectly. Heating elements, sealing rings, slide bearings, wear parts, crucibles, sintering aids, burner nozzles, & heat exchangers are all made from silicon carbide. Silicon Carbide has the resistivity required to function as a semiconductor material.
• Silicon carbide is the lightest and hardest ceramic material, with excellent thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and resistance to acids and lyes.
• Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices are classified as wide band gap semiconductors. When compared to commonly used silicon, they have a number of appealing properties for high voltage power semiconductors (Si).
• Silicon carbide behaves almost identically to diamond. It is not toxicologically dangerous and can be used in the food industry. SiC’s much higher breakdown field strength and thermal conductivity, in particular, allow for the creation of devices that outperform corresponding Si devices by a wide margin.
• Another common application for silicon carbide components is dynamic sealing technology, which employs friction bearings and mechanical seals in pumps and drive systems, for example.
• The material properties of silicon carbide ceramics remain constant at temperatures above 1,400°C. When used with aggressive, high-temperature media, silicon carbide enables highly economical solutions with longer tool life when compared to metals. Due to their excellent properties, silicon carbide ceramics are also ideal for use in demanding conditions in energy technology, ballistics, paper manufacturing, chemical production, & as pipe system components.

Benefits Galore

SiC power semiconductors offer a plethora of benefits namely,

• Open a World of Novel Possibilities- SiC semiconductor opens up a world of novel possibilities for digitizing various industrial processes. Processes that require particularly high speed for power electronics, for example, can be better supported, for example, with faster sensor systems. The use of 5G-controlled mobile devices based on SiC semiconductors has the potential to further optimize Industry 4.0.
• Ideal for 5G Technology– SiC semiconductors are also perfect for contemporary 5G technology. The ultra-fast network will necessitate a significant amount of power & performance, particularly from infrastructure components like transmitting stations. However, manufacturers may use SiC semiconductors in the future to recharge smartphones faster. Furthermore, the new semiconductors are well suited for wireless chargers & data center servers.
• Help Achieve Higher Range for EVs- SiC semiconductors can increase the range of electric vehicles by 10 to 15% because they convert energy more efficiently. As a result, automakers can use smaller batteries in their electric vehicles. This is a win-win situation for manufacturers and could help the industry.
• High Switching Frequency- SiC transistors can also achieve a 300-500% rise in switching frequency when compared to silicon transistors. This is yet another reason why SiC semiconductors can be used to make much smaller components.
• Lesser Heat Loss- When compared to conventional silicon semiconductors, SiC semiconductors have up to 50% less heat loss. Thus, power electronics, the conversion of electricity into a usable form for a device, is an important field of application for SiC semiconductors. Silicon semiconductors, for example, have traditionally been used in laptops, but they emit a lot of energy as heat. There would be much less heat loss and more energy available for charging with silicon-carbide semiconductors.
• Comparatively Much Smaller- SiC power electronics semiconductors can be made 10 times smaller than traditional silicon semiconductors. This is possible due to their wider band width, which allows them to convert electricity with less heat loss. To achieve the same performance, a silicon semiconductor would have to be much larger.

Wrapping Up

In short the electronic properties of SiC power semiconductors are much superior over that of silicon. It possesses better electron mobility and saturated electron velocity. The best part, they are less impacted by overheating for its wider energy bandgap. Owing to these alluring features SiC power semiconductors are highly preferred and are here to stay.