September 6, 2023 /SemiMedia/ -- According to Nikkei Asia, Shin-Etsu Chemical Industries, Japan's largest semiconductor wafer company, and OKI, which is engaged in ATM and communication equipment, have jointly developed a new technology for low-cost manufacturing of gallium nitride (GaN). This technology can reduce the manufacturing cost of gallium nitride materials by more than 90%. This technology can reduce the manufacturing cost of gallium nitride materials by more than 90%, and can greatly reduce the cost of fast charging chargers, electric vehicle motor electronic control and other devices.

According to Shin-Etsu, the technology can be used to manufacture 6-inch gallium nitride wafers, with the goal of increasing it to 8 inches by 2025. Shin-Etsu Chemical Industry, etc., will also consider business models such as selling technology to semiconductor manufacturers in the future.

The realization of low-cost mass production of high-current and high-power gallium nitride power semiconductors is of great significance to electric vehicles. Replacing SiC silicon carbide power semiconductors with gallium nitride power semiconductors in electric vehicles can shorten fast charging time to a quarter of the previous time.

It is predicted that the new generation power semiconductor market will reach 5 trillion yen by 2035, which is 31 times that of 2022. Among them, power semiconductors for electric vehicles will drive growth.