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Will gallium nitride replace silicon?
The electronics industry has come a long way since the advent of silicon chips. But now a new material called Gallium Nitride (GaN) has the potential to replace silicon as the heart of electronic chips. Gallium Nitride can sustain higher voltages than silicon and the current can flow faster through it.
How GaN is changing the future of semiconductors?
The bottom line is that GaN technology can handle larger electric fields in a much smaller form factor than conventional silicon while delivering significantly faster switching. In addition, GaN technologies can operate at higher maximum temperatures than their silicon-based counterparts.
What is gallium nitride (GaN)?
What’s gallium nitride (GaN)? Gallium nitride is a direct bandgap semiconductor material used to manufacture semiconductor devices such as transistors and diodes. This high-performance compound first hit the power electronics market in the 1990s as a vital component in light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Is gallium nitride the future of power delivery?
In fact, it is estimated that we could cut global consumer energy usage by 10 – 20\% if we replace all silicon with Gallium Nitride. And with Power Delivery (PD), which charges up to 100W, leading the trend now — Gallium Nitride has become the perfect substitute.
Could gallium nitride replace silicon in power bricks?
Anker has debuted its tiny new power brick, and the company is crediting its small size with the component it uses instead of silicon: gallium nitride (GaN). It’s the latest example of the growing popularity of this transparent, glass-like material that could one day unseat silicon and cut energy use worldwide.
What is the difference between gallium nitride and silicon?
To start, it has a wider band gap (3.4 eV). Silicon’s band gap is 1.1 eV. With that, Gallium Nitride can withstand higher voltages and conducts current much faster. For conducting current, Gallium Nitride’s efficiency is 1000x better than silicon. Next, GaN device can withstand higher temperatures.