SiC and GaN wide bandgap semiconductor switches can provide a step improvement in efficiency in power converters. Engineers should be aware that they have different secondary characteristics compared with Si-MOSFETS and IGBTs.
When it comes to smart control applications, it’s worth taking a step back to consider when and if the switch to wide bandgap from MOSFET or IGBT makes sense. When the answer is yes, then the decision is whether SiC or GaN is the way to go.
Even with the undeniable performance and potential of silicon carbide (SiC) technology, some designers may be hesitant initially to tackle new projects using SiC.