When fractions of a second make all the difference: Empa researchers developed a process for manufacturing advanced thin films in which sophisticated timing enables high-quality functional layers at low process temperatures. The new method has applications in the semiconductor industry as well as in future quantum and photonics technologies.

Surface treatments play a critical but often overlooked role in power electronics, enhancing performance, reliability, and manufacturing consistency by protecting components from corrosion, improving thermal and electrical efficiency, and enabling strong material bonds.

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has developed innovative technology that significantly reduces losses on-resistance1 in silicon carbide trench MOSFETs2 while enhancing UIS ruggedness3. Additionally, Toshiba has developed SiC semi-super junction4 Schottky barrier diodes that suppress the increase in on-resistance at high temperatures. These advances are expected to greatly improve the reliability and efficiency of devices used in power conversion applications, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.

A pan-European consortium dedicated to developing sustainable processes and technologies for the semiconductor-manufacturing supply chain announces the launch of the GENESIS project. This integrated, large-scale initiative aims to enable Europe’s chip industry to meet its sustainability goals – from material development to final waste treatment.

Xiamen Hongfa Electroacoustic Co., Ltd has designed the industry’s highest performance and smallest active suspension power system with a goal to drive what has been a long-time luxury feature into the midrange vehicle class. Overcoming decades of false starts by prominent automotive technology providers, Hongfa struck a balance between the need to manage active suspension system size, weight and transient performance against the requirement for higher efficiency, improved EMI and symmetrical regenerative power capacity.

The decline of printed circuit board and electronic manufacturing services in Europe is posing significant risks to the continent's security and sovereignty. With only a small fraction of the global production taking place locally, Europe's dependence on foreign suppliers threatens the integrity of its critical infrastructures and defense capabilities. ZVEI is calling for a robust de-risking strategy to bolster domestic manufacturing and protect against potential manipulation and competitive disadvantages.

In a joint research effort, scientists from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology KAUST and Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems successfully replaced spin-coating with blade-coating in the production of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. In a “hybrid route” combining evaporation and blade-coating to deposit perovskite solar cells on silicon bottom cells, they produced tandem solar cells with efficiencies approaching 28 percent. Their result opens a path to the large-scale production of this promising new solar cell technology.

Batteries were invented to empower portables and reduce the reliance of vehicles on non-renewable fossil fuels. Now batteries need complex tech to operate and occupy a significant device space, which manufacturers aim to reduce. Advocates of battery-free technology consider radio frequency, wireless technology, piezoelectricity, and incident-light-based optics as potential replacements for batteries. This article explores the world of battery-less electronics and the advancement so far.

Rimac supplies the complete electric powertrain for the new Bugatti Tourbillon, including an 800-volt battery with oil-cooled cells and high-density SiC inverters. The power electronics enable precise torque vectoring and high efficiency within a compact design. Rimac has also developed the battery management system and several safety-critical control units.

Power rails are “invisible heroes” of semiconductor chips and PCBs that integrate power electronics and digital systems. Contrary to the name, power rails are not the type of power supply found on railway tracks. They ensure the continuous functioning of electronic devices and computers. The article describes power rails and their significance in the industry.