Among the various types of semiconductors, “power semiconductors” are attracting increasing attention as a trump card for decarbonization. These semiconductors are essential for electric vehicles (xEVs) and for improving power consumption efficiency, and the technological development of new materials for them is accelerating.
We interviewed Akira Minamikawa, a top analyst in the electronics industry, and Naoko Abe of TANAKA Precious Metals Group (TANAKA), which processes almost all precious metal materials used in semiconductors, about the mechanisms of power semiconductors, industry trends and technological development trends of these new materials.
The task of a power semiconductor is to control the flow of current
Put simply, power semiconductors are semiconductors that process electrical energy and perform three main tasks.
The first is power control. The second is the conversion of alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). Both functions are necessary to operate electrical devices with the power that comes from the socket.
Finally, the third role that is important for decarbonization is motor control. Power semiconductors are used in “BEVs” (Battery Electric Vehicles), which run on battery-powered motors, as well as in “Hybrid Electric Vehicles” and “PHEVs” (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles).
In addition, the electrification of vehicles with combustion engines is also progressing rapidly and it is quite possible that demand for power semiconductors will boom in this area as well.
Global power semiconductor market. Source: Fuji Keizai “2024 Edition Current Status and Future Prospects of the Next-Generation Power Devices and Related Power Electronic Equipment Market” (Processed by our company based on data from Fuji Keizai, converted at 150 yen per US dollar.) TANAKA
Next-generation power semiconductors slow the increase in power consumption caused by the widespread introduction of generative AI
A pressing issue in the area of power reduction is data centers, whose power consumption has increased rapidly in recent years. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, the expansion of the use of generative AI, which requires enormous amounts of power for machine learning, will increase the power consumption of data centers worldwide to 1,000 terawatts by 2026.
Minamikawa expects that as generative AI becomes more widespread, there will be a rush to build more data centers in the next two to three years. Data centers currently consume about 5% of the electricity consumed worldwide. By 2030, this share is expected to rise to about 8%.
New semiconductor materials that are also intended to help reduce power consumption in data centers are “SiC” (silicon carbide) and “GaN” (gallium nitride).
SiC semiconductors can withstand high voltages and temperatures and are therefore suitable for use in high-temperature areas such as engine rooms and engines.
On the other hand, one property of GaN semiconductors is their ability to operate at high frequencies. This has the advantage of reducing the power loss when converting AC to DC, which advances energy saving efforts.
Growing power devices market and technology trends. Source: Power Electronics Industry Status Report, Yole Intelligence, 2023 TANAKA
TANAKA is actively working on material development in response to new technological trends in power semiconductors.
TANAKA is known for its B2C business and the purchase and sale of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum. However, the company also has a strong B2B presence and supplies precious metals to a wide range of industries, including the semiconductor industry, the energy industry, healthcare and the environmental sector. The company processes almost all precious metals used in semiconductors and has contributed to the advancement of semiconductor technology.
In particular, TANAKA is the world’s leading supplier of bonding wires – a metal interconnect material for semiconductors. For power semiconductors, TANAKA offers a comprehensive range of packaging materials for every process, including bonding wires and die bonding adhesives for interconnects, active metal solder materials, various coating processes and sputtering targets.
TANAKA provides products that solve problems such as “low resistance” and “heat dissipation measures” in materials for next-generation power semiconductors.
The company will continue to take a proactive approach to material development, working backwards from end-use applications to anticipate needs in order to anticipate future requirements and develop and offer innovative materials.
TANAKA
The full interview is available on TANAKA Precious Metals’ Elements media platform.
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This article was created by TANAKA Precious Metals with Insider Studios
