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The Ins and Outs of Silicon Carbide
- peter_d_sherman 7y agoExcerpts: SE: SiC is well-understood in power electronics and RF, but is the main advantage the ability to run devices hotter than silicon, or is it to save energy? Palmour: The goal is to save energy and reduce system costs. Silicon carbide saves the OEM money. [...] "Palmour: The reason silicon can’t go to very high temperatures is because intrinsically it starts to conduct. It really stops being a semiconductor around 175°C, and by 200°C it becomes a conductor. For silicon carbide that temperature is much higher — about 1,000°C — so it can operate at much higher temperatures."