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Heraeus is making a multi-million-euro investment in Compound Semiconductor (Xiamen) Technology Co. (CSMH), a China-headquartered material supplier of premium industrial diamond. This strategic partnership aims to drive innovations in the semiconductor industry by leveraging diamond’s unique thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties.
Heraeus signed an investment agreement with CSMH and the deal is expected to close in several weeks. As part of the agreement, Heraeus will hold a stake in the company and receive a seat on the board of directors.
Single-crystal diamond is ultra-wideband gap (UWBG) semiconductor material with the highest known thermal conductivity, surpassing existing thermal solutions such as copper by several times. Typical silicon has a thermal conductivity around 140 W/(m-K), copper is about 400 W/(m-K), and diamond has a much higher thermal conductivity up to 2200 W/(m-K). This allows heat to be dissipated more efficiently, enabling high-performance components to endure with maximum efficiency.
In addition to its superior heat dissipation properties, diamond also withstands extremely high voltages without causing an electric breakdown. This is critical for advancing miniaturization, efficiency, and robustness in power electronics.
“This investment reinforces Heraeus’ commitment to cutting-edge material start-ups and emphasizes its strategic focus on the semiconductor market. With CSMH’s outstanding diamond wafer technologies, we expect to set new standards to accelerate AI and cloud computing, as well as revolutionize inverter architecture for EVs,” said Dr. Steffen Metzger, member of the Heraeus Executive Board.
CSMH’s core business includes the production of polycrystalline and large-sized monocrystalline diamonds, which are particularly important for high-end applications in the semiconductor industry. With already 40 patents – consisting of 23 invention patents and 17 utility models – the company has successfully established itself as an innovator and technical specialist.
“We are very excited to partner with a global industry leader like Heraeus to realize our vision to be the world’s advanced compound semiconductor material provider. Being coined as ‘the ultimate semiconductor’, diamond has many excellent performance parameters such as high pressure resistance, large radio frequency, and high-temperature resistance,” noted Zhang Xing, CEO of CSMH. “The expertise that Heraeus has in global market resources, technology insights, and industrial-scale production of advanced materials will empower CSMH to promote diamond for more applications in the near future.”
Due to its exceptional physical and chemical properties, diamond’s other prominent application includes quantum sensors, optics/detection and high-power lasers, among others. CSMH’s target customers include major players in aerospace, power electronics, optical communication, Artificial Intelligence, photovoltaics, electric vehicles, and sensors.
Industrial diamonds can be produced in a matter of weeks, at a lower cost and with greater environmental friendliness. The cooperation with CSMH aligns with Heraeus’ vision of co-developing next-generation semiconductor solutions and preparing them for use. The combination of CSMH’s specialized expertise in diamond materials and Heraeus’ global market access promises a successful expansion into international markets.
Original – Heraeus
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Recently the European Space Agency (ESA) started its search for the technological advantage to improve their systems. Lead by research fellow Dr. Antxon Arrizabalaga, the project is aimed at studying the latest semiconductor technologies and exploring the impact they can have in the future of the space industry.
During its research, Dr. Antxon Arrizabalaga is looking forward to answer the following questions:
- Which are the next system-level figures the space power industry wants to achieve?
- Can the wide bandgap semiconductors help to achieve these figures?
- Which semiconductor ratings are demanded by the space power industry for each application?
At the moment the research project lead by Dr. Arrizabalaga is focusing on the silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor devices, as they are better suited for the requirements of the high-power applications. The team has already had several meetings with the main European space power companies discussing the points of interest mentioned above.
As a result, ESA received rich feedback with industry requirements and new ideas. And as anticipated, most of the companies are looking to the ways to increase power of their systems.
Thus, the following applications were mentioned the most:
- Latching current limiters (LCL) for high power distribution
- High-voltage (HV), increasing the traditional bus voltage, and high-power (HP) DC-DC converters
- Rectification and synchronous rectification
- HP motor drives
- Very HV applications, around and over 1 kV
Figure 1. The ratings of the semiconductor devices required by the industry for each application
According to Dr. Arrizabalaga, ESA classifies innovations in three categories, according to the degree of innovation they bring when compared to the state-of-the-art:
- Enhancing. It brings a substantial improvement to the state-of-the-art system.
- Based on a technology replacement
- For SiC devices it means replacing the Si devices in an existing application and optimizing the system to get system-level benefits
- Low risk, development time and cost for manufacturers
- Straightforward adoption by industry and high probability of success
- Enabling. It will allow a new feature, new application, or even a new mission.
- Critical technologies for a certain feature, application or mission
- For SiC devices it means that without the adoption of such devices, the new desired feature, application or mission is no longer possible
- Medium-high risk for manufacturers, higher development cost and effort, since it has never been done before
- More challenging adoption by industry, and lower probability of success
- Game-changing. It promises to bring entirely new capabilities (not considered for this study).
Figure 2. Classification of the applications mentioned by the industry and the main drivers needed to be optimized for each application.
The European Space Agency research team is looking forward to support the successful adoption of the wide bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices by the European space power industry, giving the European industry a competitive edge.
Original – Dr. Antxon Arrizabalaga
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Infineon Technologies AG filed a lawsuit, through its subsidiary Infineon Technologies Austria AG, against Innoscience (Zhuhai) Technology Company, Ltd., and Innoscience America, Inc. and affiliates. Infineon is seeking permanent injunction for infringement of a United States patent relating to gallium nitride (GaN) technology owned by Infineon.
The patent claims cover core aspects of GaN power semiconductors encompassing innovations that enable the reliability and performance of Infineon’s proprietary GaN devices. The lawsuit was filed in the district court of the Northern District of California.
Infineon alleges that Innoscience infringes the Infineon patent mentioned above by making, using, selling, offering to sell and/or importing into the United States various products, including GaN transistors for numerous applications, within automotive, data centers, solar, motor drives, consumer electronics, and related products used in automotive, industrial, and commercial applications.
“The production of gallium nitride power transistors requires completely new semiconductor designs and processes”, said Adam White, President of Infineon’s Power & Sensor Systems Division. “With nearly two decades of GaN experience, Infineon can guarantee the outstanding quality required for the highest performance in the respective end products. We vigorously protect our intellectual property and thus act in the interest of all customers and end users.”
Infineon has been investing in R&D, product development and the manufacturing expertise related to GaN technology for decades. Infineon continues to defend its intellectual property and protect its investments.
On 24 October 2023, Infineon announced the closing of the acquisition of GaN Systems Inc., becoming a leading GaN power house and further expanding its leading position in power semiconductors.
Infineon leads the industry with its GaN patent portfolio, comprising around 350 patent families. Market analysts expect the GaN revenue for power applications to grow by 49% CAGR to approx. US$2 billion by 2028 (source: Yole, Power SiC and GaN Compound Semiconductor Market Monitor Q4 2023). Gallium nitride is a wide bandgap semiconductor with superior switching performance that allows smaller size, higher efficiency and lower-cost power systems.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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Infineon Technologies AG introduced the new CoolSiC™ MOSFETs 2000 V in the TO-247PLUS-4-HCC package to meet designers’ demand for increased power density without compromising the system’s reliability even under demanding high voltage and switching frequency conditions.
The CoolSiC MOSFETs offer a higher DC link voltage so that the power can be increased without increasing the current. It is the first discrete silicon carbide device with a breakdown voltage of 2000 V on the market and comes in a TO-247PLUS-4-HCC package with a creepage distance of 14 mm and clearance distance of 5.4 mm. With low switching losses, the devices are ideal for solar (e.g. string inverters) as well as energy storage systems and electric vehicle charging applications.
The CoolSiC MOSFET 2000 V product family is ideally suited for high DC link systems with up to 1500 V DC. Compared to 1700 V SiC MOSFETs, the devices also provide a sufficiently high overvoltage margin for 1500 V DC systems. The CoolSiC MOSFETs deliver a benchmark gate threshold voltage of 4.5 V and are equipped with a robust body diode for hard commutation. Due to the .XT connection technology, the components offer first-class thermal performance. They are also highly resistant to humidity.
In addition to the CoolSiC MOSFETs 2000 V, Infineon will soon be launching the matching CoolSiC diodes: The first launch will be the 2000 V diode portfolio in the TO-247PLUS 4-pin package in the third quarter of 2024, followed by the 2000 V CoolSiC diode portfolio in the TO-247-2 package in the final quarter of 2024. These diodes are particularly suitable for solar applications. A matching gate driver portfolio is also available.
The CoolSiC MOSFET 2000 V product family is available now. In addition, Infineon also offers a suitable evaluation board: the EVAL-COOLSIC-2KVHCC. Developers can use the board as a precise universal test platform to evaluate all CoolSiC MOSFETs and diodes 2000 V and the EiceDRIVER™ Compact Single Channel Isolated Gate Driver 1ED31xx product family through double pulse or continuous PWM operation.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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EPC announced the publication of its Phase-16 Reliability Report, documenting continued work using test-to-fail methodology and adding specific guidelines for overvoltage specifications and improving thermo-mechanical reliability.
Compared to the Phase 15 Reliability Report, this version presents expanded data and analysis. It now includes a general overview of the wear-out mechanisms of primary concerns for a given application. New to this version of the report, is a description of how to forecast the reliability of a system in a realistic mission profile that combines periods of substantial and minor stress.
Adding to the existing knowledge base, this report includes significant new material on the thermo-mechanical wear-out mechanisms and overvoltage guidelines. Thermo-mechanical wear-out mechanisms include a study of the impact of die size and bump shape on temperature cycling (TC) reliability. This report also includes a study of overvoltage robustness for both the gate and the drain of GaN transistors.
This report is divided into the following sections:
- Section 1: Determining wear-out mechanisms using test-to-fail methodology.
- Section 2: Using test-to-fail results to predict device lifetime in a system.
- Section 3: Wear-out mechanisms
- Section 4: Mission-specific reliability predictions including solar, DC-DC, and lidar applications.
- Section 5: Summary and conclusions
- Appendix: Solder stencil design rules for reliable assembly of PQFN packaged devices
According to Dr. Alex Lidow, CEO and co-founder of EPC, “The release of our Phase-16 report satisfies a critical need for ongoing research into GaN device reliability. This report provides valuable insights on mission robustness, ensuring devices meet the demands of diverse applications.”
Original – Efficient Power Conversion
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Navitas Semiconductor announced their AI data center technology roadmap for up to 3x power increase to support similar exponential growth in AI power demands expected in just the next 12-18 months.
Traditional CPUs require typically only 300W and the data center ac/dc power supplies would typically power the equivalent of 10 of these or 3,000W (3kW). High-performance AI processors like NVIDIA’s ‘Grace Hopper’ H100 are already demanding 700W each today, with next-gen ‘Blackwell’ B100 & B200 chips anticipated to increase to 1,000W or more by next year.
To meet this exponential power increase, Navitas is developing server power platforms which rapidly increase from 3kW to up to 10kW. In August 2023, Navitas introduced a 3.2kW data center power platform utilizing latest GaN technology enabling over 100W/in3 and over 96.5% efficiency. Now, Navitas is releasing a 4.5kW platform enabled by a combination of GaN and SiC to push densities over 130W/in3 and efficiencies over 97%. These two platforms have already generated significant market interest with over 20 data center customer projects in development expected to drive millions in GaN or SiC revenues starting this year.
Today, Navitas also announces its plans to introduce an 8-10kW power platform by the end of 2024 to support 2025 AI power requirements. The platform will utilize newer GaN and SiC technologies and further advances in architecture to set all-new industry standards in power density, efficiency and time-to-market. Navitas is already engaged with major data-center customers, with full platform launch anticipated in Q4 ’24, completing this 3x increase in power demands in only 12-18 months.
Navitas’ unique data-center design center is creating these system designs to address the dramatic increases in AI data center power requirements, and assist customers to deploy platforms quickly and effectively to meet the accelerated time-to-market demands of rapid AI advances. System designs include complete design collateral with fully-tested hardware, schematics, bill-of-materials, layout, simulation and hardware test results to maximize first-time-right designs and fast revenue generation.
“The rapid development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) into global data centers has created a dramatic and unexpected power challenge for our entire industry,” noted Gene Sheridan, Navitas’ CEO and Co-Founder. “Our investment in leading-edge GaN and SiC technologies, combined with our unique data-center design center capabilities, have positioned us well. Our team has really stepped up to the challenge, with a 3x power increase in less than 18 months.”
Original – Navitas Semiconductor
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Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has started mass production of a 3rd generation silicon carbide (SiC) 1700 V and drain current (DC) rating 250 A of SiC MOSFET module “MG250V2YMS3” for industrial equipment and has expanded its lineup.
The new product MG250V2YMS3 offers low conduction loss with low drain-source on-voltage (sense) of 0.8 V (typ.). It also offers low switching loss with low turn-on switching loss of 18 mJ (typ.) and low turn-off switching loss of 11 mJ (typ.). This helps to reduce power loss of equipment and the size of cooling device.
MG250V2YMS3 has a low stray inductance of 12 nH (typ.) and is capable of high-speed switching. In addition, it suppresses surge voltage in switching operation. Thus, it is available for high frequency isolated DC-DC converter.
Toshiba’s SiC MOSFET module of 2-153A1A package has a lineup of four existing products, MG250YD2YMS3 (2200 V / 250 A), MG400V2YMS3 (1700 V / 400 A), and MG600Q2YMS3 (1200 V / 600 A), including new products. This provides a wider range of product selection.
Toshiba will continue to meet the needs for high efficiency and the downsizing of industrial equipment.
Applications
Industrial equipment
- Inverters and converters for railway vehicles
- Auxiliary power supply for railway vehicles
- Renewable energy power generation systems
- Motor control equipment for industrial equipment
- High frequency DC-DC converters, etc.
Features
- Low drain-source on-voltage (sense):
VDS(on)sense=0.8 V (typ.) (ID=250 A, VGS=+20 V, Tch=25 °C) - Low turn-on switching loss:
Eon=18 mJ (typ.) (VDD=900 V, ID=250 A, Tch=150 °C) - Low turn-off switching loss:
Eoff=11 mJ (typ.) (VDD=900 V, ID=250 A, Tch=150 °C) - Low stray inductance:
LsPN=12 nH (typ.)
Original – Toshiba
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Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. and Nexperia B.V. announced in November 2023 that they had entered into an agreement that Vishay will acquire Nexperia’s wafer fabrication facility and operations located in Newport, South Wales, U.K.
At the time of that announcement, the closing of Newport wafer fab transaction was subject to UK government review, the purchase rights of a third party, and customary closing conditions. Nexperia is pleased to announce that all conditions to the sale have now been met and the sale of Newport wafer fab to Vishay is now finalised, today, 6th March, securing a future for its employees and for the site.
Original – Nexperia
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Infineon Technologies AG opens a new chapter in power systems and energy conversion and introduces the next generation of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET trench technology. The new Infineon CoolSiC™ MOSFET 650 V and 1200 V Generation 2 improve MOSFET key performance figures such as stored energies and charges by up to 20 percent compared to the previous generation without compromising quality and reliability levels leading to higher overall energy efficiency and further contributing to decarbonization.
CoolSiC MOSFET Generation 2 (G2) technology continues to leverage performance capabilities of silicon carbide by enabling lower energy loss that turns into higher efficiency during power conversion. This provides strong benefits to customers for various power semiconductor applications such as photovoltaics, energy storage, DC EV charging, motor drives and industrial power supplies.
A DC fast charging station for electric vehicles which is equipped with CoolSiC G2 allows for up to 10 percent less power loss compared to previous generations, while enabling higher charging capacity without compromising form factors. Traction inverters based on CoolSiC G2 devices can further increase electric vehicle ranges. In the area of renewable energies, solar inverters designed with CoolSiC G2 make smaller sizes possible while maintaining a high power output, resulting in a lower cost per watt.
“Megatrends call for new and efficient ways to generate, transmit and consume energy. With the CoolSiC MOSFET G2, Infineon brings silicon carbide performance to a new level,” said Dr. Peter Wawer, Division President Green Industrial Power at Infineon.
“This new generation of SiC technology enables the accelerated design of more cost-optimized, compact, reliable, and highly efficient systems harvesting energy-savings and reducing CO 2 for every watt installed in the field. It’s a great example of Infineon’s relentless spirit, constantly pushing for innovation to drive decarbonization and digitalization in the industrial, consumer and automotive sectors.”
Contributing to high-performance CoolSiC G2 solutions, Infineon’s pioneer CoolSiC MOSFET trench technology provides an optimized design trade-off, allowing higher efficiency and reliability compared to SiC MOSFET technology available so far. Combined with the award-winning .XT packaging technology, Infineon is further increasing the potential of designs based on CoolSiC G2 with higher thermal conductivity, better assembly control and improved performance.
Mastering all relevant power technologies in silicon, silicon carbide and gallium nitride (GaN), Infineon offers design flexibility and leading-edge application know-how that meet the expectations and demands of modern designers. Innovative semiconductors based on wide-bandgap (WBG) materials like SiC and GaN are the key to conscious and efficient use of energy in fostering decarbonization.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited, a part of Tube Investments of India Limited and the Murugappa Group, Renesas Electronics Corporation and Stars Microelectronics (Thailand) Public Co. Ltd., a Thailand-based Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) provider; had recently signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) to establish a Joint Venture (JV) to build and operate an OSAT facility in India.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the project of the JV under India’s Semiconductor scheme on February 29, 2024.
The JV brings together unique capabilities of the partners with a vision to “Make in India for the World.” CG, with around 86 years of manufacturing expertise, is keen to build semiconductor capabilities and ecosystem in India. Renesas, a leading semiconductor company headquartered in Japan, will provide advanced semiconductor technology and expertise. Stars Microelectronics, a Thai based OSAT, will provide both technology for legacy packages and training and enablement.
The JV will be 92.3% owned by CG, with Renesas and Stars Microelectronics each holding equity capital of approximately 6.8% and 0.9%, respectively. The JV plans to invest INR 7,600 crores over a five-year period, which will be financed through a mix of subsidies, equity, and potential bank borrowings as required.
The JV will set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat, with a capacity that will ramp up to 15 million units per day. The JV will manufacture a wide range of products – ranging from legacy packages such as QFN and QFP to advanced packages such as FC BGA, and FC CSP. The JV will cater to industries such as automotive, consumer, industrial, 5G, to name a few.
Commenting on this new venture, Mr. S. Vellayan, Chairman, CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited, said, “CG’s entry into the semiconductor manufacturing marks a strategic diversification for us. Our partners, Renesas and Stars Microelectronics, will make our learning curves steeper and help us focus on innovation and excellence.
This is a very exciting phase for the entire nation, and we are very keen to build out India’s semiconductor capability and ecosystem.”
Mr. Natarajan Srinivasan, Managing Director, CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited, added, “It is a matter of great pride for CG to implement this project of National importance.”
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO of Renesas said, “India is a critical part of Renesas’ business. We value its innovative landscape and robust potential growth and are committed to accelerating our investment in India. By partnering with the Murugappa Group and Stars Microelectronics, we will bolster India’s semiconductor ecosystem and address the growing semiconductor demand for the customers worldwide.”
Mr. Prompong Chaikul, Chairman of Executive Committee of Stars Microelectronics (Thailand) Public Co., Ltd added, “We are deeply honored to join forces in this thrilling venture. Leveraging our expertise and experience in OSAT, we are committed to providing robust support to ensure the success of this project in India.”
Original – Renesas Electronics
