Among the various types of semiconductors, “power semiconductors” are attracting attention as a trump card for decarbonization. These semiconductors are essential for electric vehicles (xEV) and for improving power consumption efficiency, and the technological development of new materials for them is accelerating.

We asked Akira Minamikawa, a top analyst in the electronics industry, and Naoko Abe of the TANAKA Precious Metals Group (TANAKA), which handles almost all precious metal materials used in semiconductors, about the mechanisms of power semiconductors, industry trends, and technological development trends of these new materials.

The job of a power semiconductor is to control the flow of electricity

Put simply, power semiconductors are semiconductors that handle electrical power, and they have three main roles.

The first is power control. The second is conversion from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). Both roles are necessary to operate electrical appliances with the electricity that reaches the outlet.

Lastly, the third role, which is important for contributing to decarbonization, is motor control. Power semiconductors are used in “BEVs” (Battery Electric Vehicles) that run on motors using battery power, and in “hybrid vehicles” and “PHEVs” (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles).

In addition, the electrification of internal combustion engine vehicles is also rapidly progressing, and there is a high possibility of a boom in demand for power semiconductors in this area, too.

Next-generation power semiconductors curb the surge in power consumption caused by the widespread adoption of generative AI

A pressing issue in the area of power reduction is data centers, which have rapidly increased power consumption in recent years. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, the expansion of the use of generative AI, which requires an enormous amount of electricity for machine learning, will increase the amount of electricity consumed by data centers worldwide to 1,000 terawatts by 2026.

Minamikawa expects a rush to build more data centers over the next two to three years amid the spread of generative AI. Currently, data centers consume about 5% of the electricity used worldwide. It is said that this will reach about 8% by 2030.

New semiconductor materials that are also expected to help reduce power consumption in data centers are “SiC” (silicon carbide) and “GaN” (gallium nitride).

SiC semiconductors can withstand high voltages and temperatures, making them suitable for use near high-temperature areas such as engine rooms and motors.

On the other hand, a characteristic of GaN semiconductors is their ability to operate at high frequencies. This has the advantage of reducing power loss during conversion from AC to DC, advancing energy-saving efforts.

TANAKA is actively working on material development in response to new power semiconductor technological trends.

TANAKA is well-known for its business-to-consumer operations, buying and selling precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum; however, the company also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying precious metal materials to a wide range of industries, including semiconductors, energy, healthcare, and environmental sectors. The company handles almost all precious metal materials used in semiconductors and has contributed to the advancement of semiconductor technology.

In particular, TANAKA is the world’s No. 1 supplier of “bonding wires” — a metal bonding material for semiconductors. For power semiconductors, TANAKA offers a comprehensive range of packaging materials for each process, including bonding wires and die-bonding adhesives for bonding elements, active metal brazing materials, various plating processes, and sputtering targets.

TANAKA supplies products that solve issues such as “low resistance” and “heat dissipation measures” in materials for next-generation power semiconductors.

In materials development, the company will continue to take a proactive approach, working backward from final applications to identify upstream needs to anticipate future requirements, developing and offering innovative materials.

The full interview is available on TANAKA Precious Metals’ owned media platform, “Elements.”

Click here for more information on TANAKA Precious Metals Group.

This article was created by TANAKA Precious Metals with Insider Studios