Silicon Craft Technology

Thermal Management in the Silicon Carbide Revolution

For electric vehicles (EVs), efficiency is the name of the game. In the past few years, we have started to see wide bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) adopted in EV inverters to replace the typical silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistors (Si IGBTs).

Will We See GaN HEMTs in Electric Vehicle Power Electronics Devices?

Silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) are the new kids on the block when it comes to semiconductor power devices. Comparatively, traditional silicon has limitations in high temperature and high voltage operation, limitations important to overcome in the continuous grind for ever greater vehicle range and performance. In electric vehicle power electronics, SiC MOSFETs currently have a much greater presence than GaN HEMTs - why?

Many Trends to Track for Li-ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles

With the growing momentum behind the electric vehicle market comes an added importance of understanding the Li-ion batteries that power them, the variety of design choices available, and trends in their implementation.

Taking Printed Electronics Ideas All The Way to Market

An EU-funded project's innovation test bed provides access to consulting services and state-of-the art pilot lines, helping companies commercialise their printed electronics.

Upcoming Webinar - Trends That Are Driving Up the Heat in EVs

Thursday 22 July 2021 - Shifting Thermal Management Strategies. Thermal management of electric vehicles is a key consideration for range, performance, lifetime and safety of EVs. There are several key trends within the EV market, several of which will change the materials, designs and markets for thermal management.

Key Trends That Are Turning Up The Heat In The EV Market

Within the EV market, increases are being seen in battery capacity, range, charging rates, wide bandgap semiconductors, and high-performance traction motors. Additionally, EV fires and related recalls have brought the concept of thermal runaway detection, prevention, and protection to the fore. All of these trends demand more effective thermal management systems, solutions, and materials.

Porotech

Porotech is a spin-out from the Cambridge Centre for Gallium Nitride in the Dept. of Materials Science and Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge.

Elaphe (2021)

Elaphe is a start-up based out of Slovenia making in-wheel motors primarily for automotive applications. IDTechEx caught up with Luka Ambrozic, Chief Marketing Officer at Elaphe.

Nexperia: GaN for EV Power Electronics

SiC has been shown as an alternative to Si in electric vehicle power electronics, especially for high voltage applications. At a recent webinar, Nexperia detailed their GaN technology for on-board chargers, DC/DC converters and traction inverters.

Magnax

Magnax is a leader in yokeless axial-flux motor development with an innovative design that can achieve power densities of up to 4x and 2x more than radial and yoked axial flux motors, respectively and a peak efficiency comparable with state-of-the-art radial flux PM motors. IDTechEx caught up with CCO and cofounder Daan Moreels about the company's exciting plans to enter production.

Tesla's Innovative Power Electronics: The Silicon Carbide Inverter

Like the Beatles in the 60s, Tesla has arguably achieved the feat of being simultaneously the best and most popular at what they do. As the IDTechEx report "Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea & Air 2021-2041" discusses, Tesla enters a new market and quickly becomes the top-selling electric vehicle maker. In this article, we focus on Tesla's innovations in the field of power electronics and some of the new materials opportunities being created.

Why is Tesla's Inverter Innovative?

IDTechEx takes a look at Tesla's SiC inverter, and why it is ahead of the curve.

Heraeus: CucorAl Plus

At the recent ChargedEVs event, Heraeus demonstrated a new material for interconnects in electric vehicle power modules, that combines the advantages of aluminium and copper.

Advano

Advano are a US-based start-up developing silicon anodes for Li-ion batteries.

Amo Green

Amo Green is developing nano Ag pressure less sintering paste. Their product was showcased in Nurenberg Power Electronics show in May 2019.

Karma Automotive

California based Karma Automotive are best known for manufacturing luxury plug-in hybrid electric sports cars, but they are also developing a range of skateboard type chassis platforms for a wide variety of different battery electric and extended-range electric vehicles.

Alpha Assembly

Alpha: commercializing Ag nano sintering die attach paste

RF GaN Device Suppliers for the 5G Market

With the rapidly expanding market for 5G infrastructure, many companies are expanding their portfolio and ramping up the production of GaN devices.

GaN Systems

GaN Systems are leading suppliers of GaN on Si for power conversion applications. As the 5G market grows, this presents a potential new market for GaN Systems to demonstrate their GaN devices and wireless power transfer technology.

NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors produce various semiconductor components across several markets. 5G will be a key enabling technology for them going forward.