GaN Power Devices and Applications, provides an update on gallium nitride (GaN) technology and applications by leading experts. It includes detailed descriptions of the latest examples of GaN's usage in power supplies, lidar systems, motor drives, and space applications.

This book presents the first comprehensive overview of the properties and fabrication methods of GaN-based power transistors, with contributions from the most active research groups in the field. It describes how gallium nitride has emerged as an excellent material for the fabrication of power transistors; thanks to the high energy gap, high breakdown field, and saturation velocity of GaN, these devices can reach breakdown voltages beyond the kV range, and very high switching frequencies, thus being suitable for application in power conversion systems. Based on GaN, switching-mode power converters with efficiency in excess of 99 % have been already demonstrated, thus clearing the way for massive adoption of GaN transistors in the power conversion market. This is expected to have important advantages at both the environmental and economic level, since power conversion losses account for 10 % of global electricity consumption. The first part of the book describes the properties and advantages of gallium nitride compared to conventional semiconductor materials. The second part of the book describes the techniques used for device fabrication, and the methods for GaN-on-Silicon mass production. Specific attention is paid to the three most advanced device structures: lateral transistors, vertical power devices, and nanowire-based HEMTs. Other relevant topics covered by the book are the strategies for normally-off operation, and the problems related to device reliability. The last chapter reviews the switching characteristics of GaN HEMTs based on a systems level approach. This book is a unique reference for people working in the materials, device and power electronics fields; it provides interdisciplinary information on material growth, device fabrication, reliability issues and circuit-level switching investigation.

An up-to-date, practical guide on upgrading from silicon to GaN, and how to use GaN transistors in power conversion systems design This updated, third edition of a popular book on GaN transistors for efficient power conversion has been substantially expanded to keep students and practicing power conversion engineers ahead of the learning curve in GaN technology advancements. Acknowledging that GaN transistors are not one-to-one replacements for the current MOSFET technology, this book serves as a practical guide for understanding basic GaN transistor construction, characteristics, and applications. Included are discussions on the fundamental physics of these power semiconductors, layout, and other circuit design considerations, as well as specific application examples demonstrating design techniques when employing GaN devices. GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion, 3rd Edition brings key updates to the chapters of Driving GaN Transistors; Modeling, Simulation, and Measurement of GaN Transistors; DC-DC Power Conversion; Envelope Tracking; and Highly Resonant Wireless Energy Transfer. It also offers new chapters on Thermal Management, Multilevel Converters, and Lidar, and revises many others throughout. Written by leaders in the power semiconductor field and industry pioneers in GaN power transistor technology and applications Updated with 35% new material, including three new chapters on Thermal Management, Multilevel Converters, Wireless Power, and Lidar Features practical guidance on formulating specific circuit designs when constructing power conversion systems using GaN transistors A valuable resource for professional engineers, systems designers, and electrical engineering students who need to fully understand the state-of-the-art GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion, 3rd Edition is an essential learning tool and reference guide that enables power conversion engineers to design energy-efficient, smaller, and more cost-effective products using GaN transistors.

GaN is considered the most promising material candidate in next-generation power device applications, owing to its unique material properties, for example, bandgap, high breakdown field, and high electron mobility. Therefore, GaN power device technologies are listed as the top priority to be developed in many countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan, and China. This book presents a comprehensive overview of GaN power device technologies, for example, material growth, property analysis, device structure design, fabrication process, reliability, failure analysis, and packaging. It provides useful information to both students and researchers in academic and related industries working on GaN power devices. GaN wafer growth technology is from Enkris Semiconductor, currently one of the leading players in commercial GaN wafers. Chapters 3 and 7, on the GaN transistor fabrication process and GaN vertical power devices, are edited by Dr. Zhihong Liu, who has been working on GaN devices for more than ten years. Chapters 2 and 5, on the characteristics of polarization effects and the original demonstration of AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field-effect transistors, are written by researchers from Southwest Jiaotong University. Chapters 6, 8, and 9, on surface passivation, reliability, and package technologies, are edited by a group of researchers from the Southern University of Science and Technology of China.

Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Power Devices: Materials, Physics, Design and Applications provides readers with a single resource on why these devices are superior to existing silicon devices. The book lays the groundwork for an understanding of an array of applications and anticipated benefits in energy savings. Authored by the Founder of the Power Semiconductor Research Center at North Carolina State University (and creator of the IGBT device), Dr. B. Jayant Baliga is one of the highest regarded experts in the field. He thus leads this team who comprehensively review the materials, device physics, design considerations and relevant applications discussed. - Comprehensively covers power electronic devices, including materials (both gallium nitride and silicon carbide), physics, design considerations, and the most promising applications - Addresses the key challenges towards the realization of wide bandgap power electronic devices, including materials defects, performance and reliability - Provides the benefits of wide bandgap semiconductors, including opportunities for cost reduction and social impact

During the last 30 years, significant progress has been made to improve our understanding of gallium nitride and silicon carbide device structures, resulting in experimental demonstration of their enhanced performances for power electronic systems. Gallium nitride power devices made by the growth of the material on silicon substrates have gained a lot of interest. Power device products made from these materials have become available during the last five years from many companies.This comprehensive book discusses the physics of operation and design of gallium nitride and silicon carbide power devices. It can be used as a reference by practicing engineers in the power electronics industry and as a textbook for a power device or power electronics course in universities.

Addresses a Growing Need for High-Power and High-Frequency Transistors Gallium Nitride (GaN): Physics, Devices, and Technology offers a balanced perspective on the state of the art in gallium nitride technology. A semiconductor commonly used in bright light-emitting diodes, GaN can serve as a great alternative to existing devices used in microelectronics. It has a wide band gap and high electron mobility that gives it special properties for applications in optoelectronic, high-power, and high-frequency devices, and because of its high off-state breakdown strength combined with excellent on-state channel conductivity, GaN is an ideal candidate for switching power transistors. Explores Recent Progress in High-Frequency GaN Technology Written by a panel of academic and industry experts from around the globe, this book reviews the advantages of GaN-based material systems suitable for high-frequency, high-power applications. It provides an overview of the semiconductor environment, outlines the fundamental device physics of GaN, and describes GaN materials and device structures that are needed for the next stage of microelectronics and optoelectronics. The book details the development of radio frequency (RF) semiconductor devices and circuits, considers the current challenges that the industry now faces, and examines future trends. In addition, the authors: Propose a design in which multiple LED stacks can be connected in a series using interband tunnel junction (TJ) interconnects Examine GaN technology while in its early stages of high-volume deployment in commercial and military products Consider the potential use of both sunlight and hydrogen as promising and prominent energy sources for this technology Introduce two unique methods, PEC oxidation and vapor cooling condensation methods, for the deposition of high-quality oxide layers A single-source reference for students and professionals, Gallium Nitride (GaN): Physics, Devices, and Technology provides an overall assessment of the semiconductor environment, discusses the potential use of GaN-based technology for RF semiconductor devices, and highlights the current and emerging applications of GaN.

Power devices are key to modern power systems, performing functions such as inverting and changing voltages, buffering and switching. Following a device-centric approach, this book covers power electronic applications, semiconductor physics, materials science, application engineering, and key technologies such as MOSFET, IGBT and WBG.

This unique new resource provides a comparative introduction to vertical Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) power devices using real commercial device data, computer, and physical models. This book uses commercial examples from recent years and presents the design features of various GaN and SiC power components and devices. Vertical verses lateral power semiconductor devices are explored, including those based on wide bandgap materials. The abstract concepts of solid state physics as they relate to solid state devices are explained with particular emphasis on power solid state devices.Details about the effects of photon recycling are presented, including an explanation of the phenomenon of the family tree of photon-recycling. This book offers in-depth coverage of bulk crystal growth of GaN, including hydride vapor-phase epitaxial (HVPE) growth, high-pressure nitrogen solution growth, sodium-flux growth, ammonothermal growth, and sublimation growth of SiC. The fabrication process, including ion implantation, diffusion, oxidation, metallization, and passivation is explained. The book provides details about metal-semiconductor contact, unipolar power diodes, and metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitors. Bipolar power diodes, power switching devices, and edge terminations are also covered in this resource.

The unique materials properties of GaN-based semiconductors havestimulated a great deal of interest in research and developmentregarding nitride materials growth and optoelectronic andnitride-based electronic devices. High electron mobility andsaturation velocity, high sheet carrier concentration atheterojunction interfaces, high breakdown field, and low thermalimpedance of GaN-based films grown over SiC or bulk AlN substratesmake nitride-based electronic devices very promising.