STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, is expanding its portfolio of Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based products to support a broad range of consumer, industrial, and automotive applications.

STMicroelectronics today announced the launch of a new family of GaN power semiconductors in its STPOWER portfolio that dramatically reduces energy use and enables slimmer designs in a wide range of electronic products.

ST's PowerGaN devices are also useful for high-power applications such as telecom power supplies, industrial motor drives, solar inverters, electric vehicles, and chargers.

GaN (Gallium Nitride) is a compound wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor that can support much higher voltages than conventional silicon by reducing conduction loss without lowering on-resistance.

Products implemented with this technology can switch much more efficiently, resulting in very low switching losses.

Higher frequency operation allows the use of smaller passive components.

All of these features allow designers to reduce overall losses (reduce heat generation) and improve the efficiency of the power converter.

Therefore, GaN, which can be miniaturized, can be used to make PC adapters smaller and lighter than the latest ubiquitous chargers. Implementation is possible.

Its main applications are consumer equipment such as chargers, external power adapters for PCs, LED lighting drivers, and power supplies inside TVs and home appliances. By significantly increasing the efficiency of these devices, which are mass-produced worldwide, it will save a significant amount of CO2.

“The commercialization of GaN-based products has ushered in a new era in power semiconductors, and ST is committed to realizing the potential of this exciting technology. Now, we are announcing the first members of our new STPOWER portfolio that will deliver breakthrough performance to power supplies across consumer, industrial, and automotive applications,” said Edoardo Merli, Vice President, Automotive and Discrete Group, and General Manager, Power Transistor Macro Division, STMicroelectronics. “We are continuing to strengthen our PowerGaN portfolio to help customers everywhere make all their power-supply designs more efficient and smaller.”