Rohm’s 5th generation SiC MOSFETs for high efficiency power applications
Rohm has developed the latest device of its EcoSiC series: the 5th Generation SiC MOSFETs optimised for high efficiency power applications. This technology is ideally suitable for automotive electric powertrain systems – such as traction inverters for electric vehicles (xEVs) – as well as power supplies for AI servers and industrial equipment such as data centres.
In recent years, the rapid proliferation of generative AI and big data processing has accelerated the deployment of high-performance servers in the industrial equipment sector. The resulting surge in power density is placing a greater strain on power infrastructure, raising concerns about localised supply shortages. While smart grids that combine renewable energy sources (i.e., solar power) with existing power supply networks are emerging as a possible solution, minimising losses during energy conversion and storage remains a key challenge.
In the automotive sector, next-generation electric vehicles require extended cruising range and faster charging, creating demand for lower-loss inverters and higher performance onboard chargers (OBCs). Against this backdrop, the adoption of SiC devices capable of both low loss and high efficiency is increasing in high-power applications ranging from a few kilowatts to hundreds of kilowatts.
The newly developed 5th Generation SiC MOSFETs achieve industry-leading low loss, driving the broader adoption of SiC technology. Through structural enhancements and manufacturing process optimisation, ON resistance is reduced by approximately 30% during high temperature operation (Tj=175°C) compared to conventional 4th Generation products (under the same breakdown voltage and chip size conditions). This improvement contributes to making units smaller while increasing output power in high temperature applications such as traction inverters for xEVs.
Application Examples
Automotive Systems: xEV traction inverters, onboard chargers (OBCs), DC-DC converters, electric compressors
Industrial Equipment: Power supplies for AI servers and data centres, PV inverters, ESS (Energy Storage Systems), UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies), eVTOL, AC servos
