Are you curious about the technology that powers your world? From ultra-fast smartphone charging to electric cars with incredible range, power semiconductors are the invisible force making it possible. In ‘Power Semiconductors for Everyone!’, we are going to dive into how these tiny components work and how they are revolutionising our lives!
Ever wondered what makes your smartphone charge faster, your electric car drive farther, or your home appliances run more efficiently? The answer lies in advancements in batteries, motors, control systems and power semiconductor devices. Power devices are tiny, usually hidden but they are quietly transforming our everyday lives without us even noticing.
So, What Exactly Are Power Semiconductors?
Power semiconductors are electronic components that control and convert electrical energy – making sure power flows smoothly, safely, and efficiently from source to end use. Traditionally, most power devices are made of silicon but as the demands of technology increase, so do the demands on power devices. There are some applications for which silicon is not suitable anymore and alternative materials are required. New power devices are being made from compound semiconductors such as silicon carbide or gallium nitride. ‘Compounds’ are just materials which are made from two or more elements. Compound semiconductors which are suitable for use in power devices are often called Wide Band Gap (WBG) materials due to the way electrons are arranged inside the materials, more on that in a future blog.
Electrification and Net Zero
Electrification is essential for achieving net zero emissions because it replaces greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels with clean, renewable electricity in transportation, heating, industry, and beyond. By powering more aspects of our lives with renewable energy, we can drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
WBG semiconductors have many advantages over silicon which means they make better devices for certain applications. WBG devices can deal with higher voltages than silicon without breaking. They can switch on and off faster meaning they are ideal for applications such as in the drive chain of electric cars. They also operate more efficiently with lower energy losses than silicon and remember: the less electricity lost, the less we have to make!
Learn more below about how crucial power semiconductors are in reaching net zero.
Greener Energy Production
Renewable energy infrastructure like solar panels and wind turbines convert natural power into usable electricity. The energy feeds into our national grid at very high voltages and then the voltage is reduced at neighbourhood substations so it can be used in our homes. New compound semiconductors are ideal for these applications as devices made of WBG materials are much smaller than silicon devices (suitcase rather than shipping container!) and can cope with the very high voltages.
Powering Electric Vehicles
Electric cars rely heavily on semiconductors, particularly power semiconductors to manage the flow of energy, from charging the battery through to drawing this energy for powering the motor. Electric cars may contain up to 3,000 semiconductors, this is compared to 300-1000 in combustion engine vehicles. They enable faster acceleration, longer range, and shorter charging times. When electric cars can drive hundreds of miles on a single charge and recharge in minutes, they will become a truly viable alternative to petrol and diesel cars.
Supercharging Your Home
Power semiconductors are at the heart of the gadgets and appliances we all use daily. New WBG semiconductors will help devices consume less electricity, run cooler, and last longer. For example, the transformer for your laptop charger (the brick shaped thing in the charger cord) is currently made using silicon. Have you ever noticed they get hot? That’s a waste of energy and potentially a safety issue. New chargers use gallium nitride where the ‘brick’ can be much smaller or even hidden in the plug and the charger doesn’t get so hot.
The Bottom Line
Power semiconductors may be invisible, but their impact is everywhere. As this technology continues to advance, you can expect even smarter homes, faster and safe devices, and greener energy. Not only saving the planet but also saving you money!
The future is bright—and semiconductors are powering the way!
Look out for more in the next instalment of our “Power Semiconductors for Everyone” series!