Wide bandgap materials, including silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), diamond, etc., have a wider bandgap than silicon. The bandgap width of these materials is typically greater than 2.0 electron volts, giving them unique advantages in high-temperature, high-frequency, high-power applications. For example, they are able to withstand higher voltages, operate stably at higher temperatures, and provide higher electron mobility.
The wide bandgap materials have broad application prospects in future technology, which are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. Optoelectronic devices
Solar cells: Wide bandgap semiconductor materials are widely used in the field of solar cells due to their high optical properties and photoelectric conversion efficiency. In the future, with the continuous progress of technology, wide bandgap materials are expected to further improve the conversion efficiency of solar cells, reduce manufacturing costs, and promote the development of the solar energy industry.
Laser devices: Wide bandgap semiconductor materials such as gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) are used to manufacture high-power, high-efficiency laser devices due to their superior electron mobility and optical properties. These laser devices have a wide range of application prospects in communications, medical, industrial processing and other fields.
Photoelectric sensors: Photoelectric sensors made of wide bandgap semiconductor materials have the characteristics of high sensitivity, high response speed and high stability, and can be used in environmental monitoring, biomedical, safety monitoring and other fields.
2. Power electronic devices
High-power power electronics: Wide-bandgap semiconductor materials are ideal for high-power power electronics because they can withstand higher voltage and current densities while having low power losses and high thermal stability. These devices have a wide range of applications in power transmission, distribution, and conversion, such as smart grids, electric vehicles, wind power generation, and other fields.
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs): Variable frequency drives based on wide bandgap materials can improve the efficiency and performance of electric motors, reducing energy consumption and noise. It is estimated that the use of VFDs can reduce energy consumption by 10 to 30 percent. In the future, with the continuous development of wide bandgap technology, VFD will occupy a larger share of the motor drive market.
Figure: Application of wide bandgap semiconductor materials in future technologies
3. Communication and computing
High-speed communication devices: The high electron mobility and low noise characteristics of wide bandgap semiconductor materials make them ideal for use in the manufacture of high-speed communication devices. These devices have important applications in the new generation of communication technologies such as 5G and 6G, which can improve data transmission speed and reliability.
High-performance computing: The high thermal stability and high electron mobility of wide bandgap semiconductor materials help improve the processing power and efficiency of computer systems. In the future, with the growing demand for computing, wide bandgap materials will play a greater role in the field of high-performance computing.
4, other areas
Aerospace: Power electronic converters based on wide bandgap materials are ideal for use in the aerospace field due to their small size, light weight, and high efficiency. These converters can improve the performance and reliability of aircraft, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Automotive electronics: With the proliferation of electric and hybrid vehicles, there is an increasing demand for efficient and reliable power electronics. Wide bandgap semiconductor materials have a wide range of applications in the field of automotive electronics due to their superior properties.
5, the trend of technological development
Material performance improvement: In the future, researchers will continue to strive to improve the performance of wide bandgap materials, such as increasing electron mobility and reducing thermal resistance, to meet the needs of higher performance applications.
Manufacturing process improvement: With the continuous improvement and innovation of manufacturing processes, the manufacturing cost of wide bandgap semiconductor materials is expected to be reduced, while improving production efficiency and product quality.
Expansion of new application fields: With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, wide bandgap materials will play an important role in more fields, such as biomedicine, quantum computing, etc.
