Advancements in power device technologies to meet the demands of power electronics applications

Abstract Power devices have a history of about 70 years. Like other semiconductor devices, they have evolved along with advancements in materials, processes, and design techniques. Today, the importance of power devices is increasing for achieving carbon neutrality, and the market continues to grow steadily. To meet market demands, major developments are underway, including the transition of silicon power devices to 300 mm wafers and the expansion of the wide-bandgap semiconductor market. In addition, the required performance of power devices varies greatly depending on the application areas in power electronics. For this reason, it is difficult to predict the future development of power devices with a simple scenario. This paper reviews the evolution of power devices and related technologies from the perspective of application requirements in power electronics. It also discusses the technologies expected to be necessary for future power devices, along with their outlook.