Smaller, faster, tougher

Silicon has long been the semiconductor of choice for such power electronics. But soon this ubiquitous substance will have to share the spotlight. Devices made from silicon carbide (SiC)-a faster, tougher, and more efficient alternative to straight silicon-are beginning to take off. Simple SiC diodes have already started to supplant silicon devices in some applica tions. And over the last few years, they've been joined by the first commercially available SiC transistors, enabling anew range of SiC-based power electronics. What's more, SiC wafer manufacturers have steadily reduced the defects in the material while increasing the wafer size, thus driving down the prices of SiC devices. Last year, according to estimates made by wafer maker Cree, the global market for silicon car bide devices topped US $100 million for the first time.