Date: 10/02/2009

Silicon carbide schottky diodes eliminates power supply switching losses

ST Microelectronics says its silicon carbide (SiC) diodes rise switching power supply efficiency by 1%, if they are used in any DC-DC converter applications instead replacing silicon diodes.

The STPSC806D and STPSC1006D SiC Schottky diodes are especially useful in converters for solar power systems, where efficiency matters a lot. Power supplies for servers and telecom systems, which are operational round the clock, will also benefit from the cumulative savings of this improvement in efficiency. These diodes can also be used in motor controllers or any such industrial and power electronics applications.

1. By saving the energy normally dissipated as heat by the silicon diode, the new SiC technology enables a lower maximum current rating for the diode. This allows smaller components to be used without sacrificing usable power. In high-power applications where heat sinks are normally used, these can also be made smaller.
2. The SiC diodes allow higher switching frequencies, which enable other components such as filtering capacitors and inductors to become smaller and less expensive, and consume less power.
3. SiC technology is able to eliminate the "reverse recovery charge" that accumulates during the diode's normal conduction period, leading to higher efficiency and lower heat dissipation. When a conventional bipolar silicon diode is turned off, this charge must be dispelled by recombination between groups of charge carriers close to the diode junction. The current flowing during this recombination period is called the reverse recovery current. This undesired current, when combined with the voltage across associated semiconductor power switches, generates heat that will be dissipated by the switches.

Availability: All the devices are available in volumes
Package: TO-220AC package

Price:
1. 8A STPSC806D available at $3.9 9 in quantities of 10K
2. 10A STPSC1006D available at $4.9 in quantities of 10K

For more information please visit: www.st.com