power semiconductor
**Power Semiconductors** — devices designed to handle high voltages (100V–10kV) and high currents (1A–1000A+), enabling efficient power conversion in everything from phone chargers to electric vehicles.
**Key Devices**
- **Power MOSFET**: Fastest switching, best for <600V. Used in DC-DC converters, motor drives
- **IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor)**: Combines MOSFET gate with bipolar output. Handles 600V–6.5kV. Used in EVs, trains, industrial drives
- **Schottky Diode**: Fast switching, low forward voltage (SiC Schottky: dominant in power supplies)
- **Thyristor/SCR**: Highest power handling. Used in grid-scale power transmission
**Wide Bandgap Revolution**
- **SiC (Silicon Carbide)**: 10x higher breakdown field, 3x thermal conductivity vs Si. Dominant for EV inverters (Tesla, BYD)
- **GaN (Gallium Nitride)**: Fastest switching, lowest losses at high frequency. Dominant for phone/laptop chargers, data center power
**Applications by Power Level**
| Power Level | Application | Typical Device |
|---|---|---|
| 1-100W | Phone charger | GaN FET |
| 100W-10kW | EV on-board charger | SiC MOSFET |
| 10kW-100kW | EV drivetrain | SiC IGBT/MOSFET |
| 100kW+ | Grid, trains | Si IGBT, Thyristor |
**Power semiconductors** are the backbone of electrification — every watt of electrical energy is processed by a power device at least once.