Wide Band Gap Semiconductors for Flexible Power Applications

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This discovery grant proposal describes a comprehensive research and education program of wide-band gap semiconductors for power applications in diversified mediums. Two semiconductors of focus are gallium nitride (GaN) and zinc oxide (ZnO), both which offer very distinct advantages over silicon (Si) over their respective application space. The development and commercialization of these material systems are the underlying motivation for this work. The GaN device offers performance advantages on traditional single crystal substrates that currently cannot be realized with Si or silicon carbide (SiC). The envisioned goal is seeing the discrete MOSFET component to its completion for eventual implementation in large-scale power systems. The immediate advantages of GaN is the potential higher speed operation. Power management systems operating at higher frequency allow the use of smaller passive components with higher efficiency thus leading to a positive environmental impact.