SiC alternatives

[len_scanlan]

The announcement about the closure of SemiSouth is indeed sad news, but this is not the end. If anything, SiC technology is only just starting to take off. Semisouth were certainly pioneers, but now there are a number of other semiconductor manufacturers starting to release their own SiC products.

I thought I'd start a thread on possible alternatives, hopefully others will add to this. There's plenty of interesting stuff on the horizon, but how much will be available to us DIYers?


Available 'Off the Shelf':

Semisouth - don't forget there will still be some stock at distributors for a while.

Cree - CMF20120D SiC Mosfet
Cree Power Products Z-FET SiC MOSFET and Z-Red SiC Schottky Diodes
Available from the major catalog distributors.


Available to OEM, possibly thru distribution:

Rohm - p/n SCH2080KEC 1200V Sic Mosfet
SiC MOSFET | ROHM Product Search Results

The Rohm website says samples are available.


Available 'real soon'

Infineon - now this is interesting, they are promoting a range of normally-on SiC JFETs. Samples are available '3Q2012' and meant to be in production next year.

CoolSiC? 1200V SiC JFET & Direct Drive Technology - Infineon Technologies


ST have also announced SiC Mosfets. See the link below for a presentation on technology for solar applications. Page 16 mentions a family of 1200V SiC Mosfets. I couldn't find anything more on their website, so probably still in development.

http://www.st.com/internet/com/SALES...eting_pres.pdf


GeneSiC - Have a range of SiC Super-Junction transistors on their website.
Mouser list a few 1700V devices on their website but no stock yet. Pricing looks reasonable (for the commercial temperature stuff - don't look at the +225C rated parts!!)



'Blue Skies' stuff:

These manufacturers mention SiC transistors, but little information on their website. Probably of limited interest to DIY as they'll be working directly with end customers on very specific applications.

Transic: Welcome to TranSiC
United Silicon Carbide Inc: United Silicon Carbide - high efficiency SiC power devices and sevices, JFET supplier

Any more?

[wrenchone]

Of course folks can also consider non-SiC alternatives. There's always innovative uses for silicon, and there's GaN as well, if someone will just come up with a device DIy-ers can use without a microscope and IR reflow..

[Wavebourn]

Cree device looks like usable on voltages above 40V, but I don't see if Rohm device can be used in analog amps, with it's huge non-linear capacitances.

[Shinja]

In japan,
Rohm's one were used by Akihiko Kaneta who is japanese famous DIY amp builder.
some japanese shop sells SCH2080KE ,but bit expensive(about @6000-8000JPY).

[Bigun]

maybe a 300B could be used instead

[Wavebourn]

Originally Posted by Bigun

maybe a 300B could be used instead

How many in parallel?

[Bigun]

yes, you'd need one of those transformer thingies !

Actually, I think Cree has quite a bit of ambition yet and we'll see more from them. But the market is for switching devices, if they are linear that is only a side bonus. Perhaps good for Class D audio?

For Class A the Ciss seems often to be a bit on the high side for my liking, especially at reasonable voltages & currents.

[Wavebourn]

My reasonable current (for the current project) is 60 mA idle, and reasonable voltage is 180V across the FET. And of course, the transformer thingy is needed, so called "matching transformer", for standard 100V input. But I can drive electrostats without it. Or line arrays, for exampe.

[Nelson Bass]

Originally Posted by Bigun

yes, you'd need one of those transformer thingies !

Nope,Transcendent Sound earlier this year announced a 300B OTL amp and I think Atma-sphere once made one as well.
But could be nice with some SiCs to play with for a secondary amp... ;-)

[vdi_nenna]

maybe a 300B could be used instead

Let's not and say we did.