The Present Status and Future Developments of Si-Based Power Semiconductor Technologies: “More Silicon” Development in Power Semiconductors Still Possesses Robust Vitality

Electric energy is the most important terminal energy in today’s society, and power semiconductors are the “heart” of electric energy conversion. More than 75% of global electric energy must be converted by power semiconductors before it can be used by various types of equipment. Among them, power MOSFETs and high-voltage integrated chips are the most prevalent and widely applied. Data centers, consumer electronics, renewable energies, rail transportation, electric vehicles, and smart grids, as emerging markets and application scenarios, are becoming potent engines driving the growth of the power semiconductor market.

This article comprehensively reviews the present status and anticipated future developments of Si-based power technologies and focuses on the physical foundations underlying their evolution. The developments of different Si-based power semiconductor technologies are discussed, and three driving forces for their future advancements are presented.