Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1442865
| 6 | The Building Blocks of Modern Electronics: Silicon Carbide Diodes, MOSFETs, and Modules By Paul Golata, Mouser Electronics The introduction of silicon carbide (SiC) as a semiconductor has significantly impacted the continued development of effective power electronics. This article will take a brief look at how SiC Schottky diodes, MOSFETS, and modules, the building blocks of modern electronics, enable designers to move beyond the limitations of legacy silicon (Si) components through improved performance, higher switching frequencies, lower switching losses and lower operating temperatures. Schottky Diodes Like other diodes, Schottky diodes are used to control the direction of current flow within a circuit, allowing it to only pass from the anode to the cathode. Schottky diodes, however, offer certain advantages over other diodes—and SiC Schottky diodes offer even better performance. Schottky diodes are employed for their low turn-on voltage, fast recovery time and low-loss energy at higher frequencies. These characteristics make Schottky diodes capable of rectifying a current by facilitating a quick transition from conducting to blocking state. Therefore, Schottky diodes are often an ideal choice for semiconductor devices in many applications. Typical applications of Schottky diodes include: • Electric and hybrid vehicle power systems • Power rectifier circuits • Solar cells • Industrial power • Radio-frequency (RF) detectors Silicon carbide Schottky diodes have higher efficiency, reliability and performance capabilities when compared to their silicon counterparts. Schottky diodes manufactured with silicon experience a higher reverse leakage current as temperatures increase, which leads to thermal instability within the device and can restrict the diode's reverse voltage rating. SiC technology, on the other hand, gives the Schottky diode higher conducting performance at increased temperatures and frequencies, plus provides lower reverse leakages and switching losses. The design and operating characteristics of SiC Schottky diodes support some of the most advanced power converters available on the market. Wolfspeed is committed to delivering SiC Schottky diodes in various current ratings, voltage ratings, and package options to meet almost any application requirement.