Wide bandgap Semiconductors for EVs
Filippo Di Giovanni of STMicroelectronics explains how Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) wide bandgap semiconductors improve efficiency in electric vehicle powertrains, specifically traction inverters, DC-DC converters, and onboard chargers. He details ST's 'STpack' discrete package and 'STback' module technologies, which use silver sintering for superior thermal reliability, and discusses the company's vertical integration through its acquisition of Norstel. The conversation covers the transition from Silicon IGBTs to SiC MOSFETs for 800V systems, the maturity gap between SiC and GaN in automotive applications, and ST's roadmap for 200mm wafers and next-generation device architectures.