Onsemi announced a new family of vertical gallium nitride (vGaN) power semiconductors developed on GaN-on-GaN technology that conduct current vertically through the compound semiconductor. The company says the architecture enables higher operating voltages and faster switching frequencies, enabling smaller, lighter and more efficient power systems. The devices were developed and manufactured at onsemi’s Syracuse, New York, fab and the company holds more than 130 global patents covering fundamental process, device architecture, manufacturing and systems innovations. onsemi is sampling both 700 volt and 1,200 volt devices to early access customers.
The company positions vGaN as a leap over lateral GaN-on-silicon and GaN-on-sapphire devices, offering higher power density, improved thermal stability and enhanced ruggedness. onsemi claims high-end systems built with vGaN can cut energy losses by almost 50 percent and operate at higher frequencies to reduce the size of passive components such as capacitors and inductors by a similar amount. The firm also reports that vGaN devices are roughly three times smaller than commercially available lateral GaN devices, and that the monolithic vertical design supports handling voltages of 1,200 volts and beyond while switching high currents at high frequency.
onsemi highlights a broad set of target markets for the new technology, including Artificial intelligence data centers where higher power density and reduced component count can improve cost per rack, electric vehicles for smaller and more efficient inverters, faster and more rugged charging infrastructure, renewable energy and energy storage systems for lower conversion losses, industrial motor drives and aerospace, defence and security for compact and robust power designs. Dinesh Ramanathan, senior vice president of corporate strategy at onsemi, called vertical GaN a game-changer that strengthens the company’s leadership in energy efficiency. The announcement reiterates that sampling is underway to early access customers and provides technical presentations and fact sheets for more detail.
