Diotec Semiconductor AG

With every switching cycle, the bootstrap capacitor must recharge through a repetitive peak current handled by the diode. As switching frequency increases, these repetitive current stresses rise accordingly. Eventually, the diode’s repetitive forward current rating becomes the bottleneck.

The conventional workaround is familiar: add a current-limiting resistor, slow the charging process, and accept a lower switching frequency.

SiC Schottky diodes change that equation.

A 2A, 1200V SiC Schottky with high repetitive peak forward current capability allows the bootstrap capacitor to recharge quickly and efficiently without relying on additional current limiting. The resistor effectively becomes optional, enabling faster charge and discharge behaviour and allowing switching frequency to be defined by the MOSFET and gate driver — not by the diode.

The thermal advantage is equally important.

Even at junction temperatures up to 175°C, devices such as the SI02C120SMB maintain stable operation in environments where conventional silicon solutions require significant derating.

Same circuit position. Significantly higher performance ceiling.

Applications include:

• Solar inverters

• Telecom power supplies

• Auxiliary power supplies

• PFC stages

Download the datasheet here