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Compound Semiconductors; GaN and SiC,
Separating Fact from Fiction
in both Research and Business
Professor Umesh Mishra, Ph.D.
Redefining Energy Efficiency
Why do we need a new technology?
What technologies are possible?
What are the relative merits of SiC and GaN?
Performance of GaN vs. SiC
1
6/25/2013
Wind/Solar Other
2.1% Renewables
2.6% Conversion
Hydro
6.4% losses
10% Lighting
19.0%
Nuclear
Coal
19.3% Heating and Motor Drives
45.6% Cooling 51.0%
16.0%
Nat.Gas
IT
24.0% 14.0%
Industry Power Density Roadmap
Silicon has provided us the pathway for power conversion solutions for several decades but has
now reached its physical limits
GaN and SiC open new possibilities
2
6/25/2013
New material options to keep us on the power density roadmap
SiC ‐ established in the market as a high performance diode; released as
JFETs and MOSFETs (target application space 1200V)
GaN on Si ‐ high performance solution with a roadmap to low cost for
diodes and transistors
GaN on SiC ‐ higher cost solution for applications demanding higher
performance with reduced sensitivity to cost
SFO: NYC:
6 TWh
GaN on GaN ‐ early stage of development 50 TWh
Gallium Oxide ‐ very early stage
Diamond ‐ out there
How can a new technology penetrate a market dominated by Silicon?
Have material properties far superior to that of Silicon
o Not just one product but providing a sustained roadmap to develop a new standard in
power conversion
Provide a solution in an existing market that Si cannot provide
o Compound semiconductor devices
Diodes (SiC and GaN)
SFO: Transistor (SiC and GaN)
NYC:
6 TWh Novel transistor packaging (Quiet Tab™)
50 TWh
Provide a cost advantage in an existing market
o System solutions at cost parity or cheaper than Si‐based solution
Reduced components (diode‐free bridge operation)
Efficient high frequency operation
small mechanical and electrical size
Create a new market
6
3
6/25/2013
How can a new technology penetrate a market dominated by Silicon?
Have material properties far superior to that of Silicon
o Not just one product but sustained roadmap
Provide a solution in an existing market that Si cannot provide
o Compound semiconductor devices
Diodes (SiC and GaN)
Transistor (SiC and GaN)
SFO: Novel transistor packaging (Quiet Tab ™) NYC:
6 TWh 50 TWh
Provide a cost advantage in an existing market
o System solutions at cost parity or cheaper than Si‐based solution
Reduced components (diode‐free bridge operation)
Efficient high frequency operation
small mechanical and electrical size
Create a new market
7
Comparing Si, SiC & GaN Semiconductors
* Inversion layer: <100; drift 1000
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6/25/2013
Why is GaN so remarkable?
o GaN is a direct bandgap material; It emits light from a dislocated material !
o Basis of a $10B LED industry today (who would have thought?!!)
o GaN is the wide band gap solution for next generation RF wireless base stations and
military RADAR ; chosen over dislocation free SiC MESFETS (who would have thought?!!)
o The tight lattice and no shear stress to move the dislocations makes GaN almost
insensitive to dislocations compared to SiC and other compound semiconductors
5.0
RF, Power, High
4.0 Voltage
GaN R = 0
3.0 c – plane
SiC LED, Laser =90°
2.0
1.0 InN
Sapphire
The heart of all power conversion unit is a “SWITCH”
No Current collapse
High Maximum Current
IDS
Low RON = VON/ION
IMAX
ION
Fast Switching Times Low Leakage
for Low Switching Loss
ION (dynamic)
VDS
Very High VOFF VBD
VON
Breakdown Voltage
Total Loss of a switch= conduction loss + switching loss
10
5
6/25/2013
GaN –Switch gives the lowest conduction loss
1.E+02
DC Figure of Merit only
Specific On-Resistance (cm )
2
1.E+01 Yokogawa ‘06 DMOS
1.E+00 2
Kansai ‘00 SIAFET
On ‘04 SJLDMOS
Si
Purdue ‘98 LDMOS 1
1.E-01 Toshiba ‘05 Semi‐SJMOS SiC
GaN 0
Energy (eV)
NCSU ‘97 ACCUFET
Fuji ‘02 SJMOS
1.E-02
Si Limit CREE ‘03 BJT
Matsushita ‘06 GIT SiC MOSFET -1
CREE ‘08 BJT
NIAIST ‘06 IEMOS Transphorm 2010 -2
1.E-03
Transphorm
Target -3
Solutions
1.E-04
Al0.22Ga0.78N/GaN -4
SiC Limit 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Limit
1.E-05 D is t a n c e ( n m )
100 1000 10000
Breakdown Voltage
GaN enables high frequency operation with low switching loss
2x advantage over SiC
14x advantage over Si
Conduction + Switching Loss
1000
5x advantage over 900
10
9
Loss (A.U.)
Si
Si Superjunction
Total Switching Loss (a.u.)
8
800
Total Loss (A.U.)
SiC
7
GaN
6
700
IGBT Est.
5
4
600
3
Total
500
2
1
12 KHz: >50 Watts
100 KHz: > 150 Watts
0
400 1.0E+03 1.0E+04
Frequency (Hz)
300
200 Total Loss minimized for each switching frequency
100
100 KHz
0
1.0E+03 1.0E+04 1.0E+05 1.0E+06 1.0E+07 1.0E+08
Frequency (Hz)
12
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6/25/2013
Transphorm Improvements in Dynamic Performance of GaN
Direct relation to performance in real world applications
Major benchmark for success in GaN power devices
Extracted from converter circuit
2.5 3 2.5
RON (), ID (A)
Id Id Ron
2
2.5 2
RON ()
Ron Ron
2
1.5 1.5
1.5
1
1
1
0.5 0.5 0.5
0 0
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
0 200 400 600
VD (V) VD (V) Vd (V)
13
How can a new technology penetrate a market dominated by Silicon?
Have material properties far superior to that of Silicon
o Not just one product but sustained roadmap
Provide a solution in an existing market that Si cannot provide
o Compound semiconductor devices
Diodes (SiC and GaN)
Transistor (SiC and GaN)
SFO: Novel transistor packaging (Quiet Tab ™) NYC:
6 TWh 50 TWh
Provide a cost advantage in an existing market
o System solutions at cost parity or cheaper than Si‐based solution
Reduced components (diode‐free bridge operation)
Efficient high frequency operation
small mechanical and electrical size
Create a new market
14
7
6/25/2013
GaN‐on‐Si and SiC 600V Diodes Outperform Silicon
4A Diode Example
o Both GaN and SiC diode have lower VF than silicon.
Less conduction loss
o Both GaN and SiC diode has zero minority charge: 0 vs. 62nC (Si)
Less spike & stable high temp operation
o GaN diode can be built on Si substrate
SiC GaN Si
Tj=125C
1.47V
1.4V
2.3V
15
How can a new technology penetrate a market dominated by Silicon?
Have material properties far superior to that of Silicon
o Not just one product but sustained roadmap
Provide a solution in an existing market that Si cannot provide
o Compound semiconductor devices
Diodes (SiC and GaN)
Transistor (SiC and GaN)
SFO: Novel transistor packaging (Quiet Tab™) NYC:
6 TWh 50 TWh
Provide a cost advantage in an existing market
o System solutions at cost parity or cheaper than Si‐based solution
Reduced components (diode‐free bridge operation)
Efficient high frequency operation
small mechanical and electrical size
Create a new market
16
8
6/25/2013
Normally –off HEMTs designs
Junction‐gated HEMTs Channel etch‐through MOSFET
Dielectric
G
S P‐GaN Dielectric
D S G Dielectric
D
AlGaN AlGaN
P gate depletes Removing the P layer
the channel forms the channel
Advantage: Single chip normally off transistor Advantage: Single chip normally off transistor
Disadvantage: Low threshold voltage Disadvantage: Device/ Dielectric not qualified
17
Cascode HEMT implementation
Advantage:
o Robust
o High performance Device Cell Cross‐section
o Compatible with Gate
Si drivers Source Insulator Drain
AlGaN Barrier
Disadvantage
2DEG GaN Buffer
o Two‐chip solution
Substrate (SiC or Si)
9
6/25/2013
Gen‐1 GaN HEMT vs. Si Super Junction MOSFET
GaN HEMT
Si CoolMOS
(Super junction
MOSFET)
19
GaN HEMT on Si vs. GaN HEMT on SiC
0.1 mA
GaN‐on‐SiC GaN‐on‐Si
20
10
6/25/2013
How can a new technology penetrate a market dominated by Silicon?
Have material properties far superior to that of Silicon
o Not just one product but sustained roadmap
Provide a solution in an existing market that Si cannot provide
o Compound semiconductor devices
Diodes (SiC and GaN)
Transistor (SiC and GaN)
SFO: Novel transistor packaging (Quiet Tab™) NYC:
6 TWh 50 TWh
Provide a cost advantage in an existing market
o System solutions at cost parity or cheaper than Si‐based solution
Reduced components (diode‐free bridge operation)
Efficient high frequency operation
small mechanical and electrical size
Create a new market
21
Quiet Tab™ package made possible by lateral GaN devices
Source connected to case for low side switch (A)
Drain connected to case for high side switch (B)
o Package body (large capacitor) is always at a DC potential; no switching
o Reduced charging capacitance: lowering charging loss and CM EMI
o GSD has better I‐O isolation than GDS pin out
AC ground Drain
(B) connected to case
Q1 VCC D
High side switch
G L
V S
G S D
D (A)
G
Low side switch RL
V
S
G S D
Source
Ground connected to case
22
11
6/25/2013
How can a new technology penetrate a market dominated by Silicon?
Have material properties far superior to that of Silicon
o Not just one product but sustained roadmap
Provide a solution in an existing market that Si cannot provide
o Compound semiconductor devices
Diodes (SiC and GaN)
Transistor (SiC and GaN)
SFO: Novel transistor packaging (Quiet Tab™) NYC:
6 TWh 50 TWh
Provide a cost advantage in an existing market
o System solutions at cost parity or cheaper than Si‐based solution
Reduced components (diode‐free bridge operation)
Efficient high frequency operation
small mechanical and electrical size
Create a new market
23
LLC DC converter’s improved performance with GaN at 500 kHz
• 500kHz for compact power supply design.
Courtesy: Work done by CPES at Virginia Tech. • Peak efficiency gain by GaN is ~ 1%.
• Low‐load efficiency gain (2‐3%)
24
12
6/25/2013
GaN
SiC
Si
Device Cost
Transphorm uniquely enables superior performance at lower cost
System Performance
GaN System
Advantage™
Other
GaN
SiC
Si
System Cost
26
13
6/25/2013
3‐Phase GaN module & high frequency inverter (motor drive or PV)
High frequency design (100kHz‐300kHz) enables compact filter (Lower cost)
Diode‐free Bridge (Lower cost and loss)
Module
Inverter
27
Output power 4.5kw (Single Phase 200V)
Input voltage 60‐400V
Maximum Power Efficiency > 98% (vs. >96.5% with Silicon)
Volume about 10L <18L (existing Silicon based)
40% volume reduction Significant loss reduction
99
98
Efficiency [%]
Silicon 97
96
95 Improved 開発品
GaN-PV
GaN Efficiency 現製品
Si-PV
94
Prototype In Major region
93
1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
Output Power[W]
28
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6/25/2013
So where does this position GaN and SiC?
The view of the future depends
upon your point of view
29
Market perspective
High‐end Super
solutions GaN Junction
MOSFET
Middle‐end
SiC
solutions GaN Super Silicon Super
Junction Junction
MOSFET MOSFET
Low‐end Super
solutions Silicon Junction Silicon
MOSFET
30
15
6/25/2013
Market perspective
High‐end Super Junction MOSFET
GaN
solutions
SiC
Middle‐end GaN
solutions
Super Silicon Super Junction
Junction MOSFET
MOSFET
Low‐end
solutions Silicon Super Junction MOSFET
Silicon
200 V 600 V 1200 V
A Super Junction supplier’s view of future
31
Market perspective
High‐end GaN
solutions
Super
Middle‐end
Junction
MOSFET SiC
solutions
Silicon
Low‐end Super
solutions Silicon Junction Silicon
MOSFET
A SiC supplier’s view of future
32
16
6/25/2013
Market perspective
High‐end SiC
solutions GaN
Middle‐end
solutions GaN Super
Junction
GaN
MOSFET
Super
Low‐end Junction
solutions Silicon MOSFET GaN
200 V 600 V 1200 V
Now that 600 V GaN on Silicon is Qualified, a GaN solution supplier’s view for future
33
17