GALLIUM NITRIDE What is a GaN charger and is it safe for use?

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A GaN charger is a very small charger that doesn't become hot to touch, even after continuous use. Conventional chargers in our homes and offices are made up of silicon. GaN chargers are made from Gallium Nitride — a superior semiconductor to silicon. Check out the article to learn about gallium nitride chargers used in consumer electronics, their benefits, and some common myths about them.

A GaN charger, or Gallium Nitride charger, is an AC-DC adapter that uses gallium nitride transistors to convert high-voltage AC from a wall outlet into low-power DC for charging electronic devices. Due to its exceptional semiconducting properties, a GaN charger is smaller, slimmer, faster, and more efficient than conventional chargers.

Benefits of GaN chargers

Experts call GaN chargers the future of charging. Usually, GaN chargers incorporate USB-C power delivery ports. They also have multiple ports to support multi-device charging. In the future, gallium nitride charging technology will be compatible with almost every other smartphone and laptop.

There are several benefits for consumers to trust in gallium nitride chargers. Many people fail to understand gallium nitride chargers. A subreddit thread is dedicated to understanding their benefits. Some benefits of GaN charges are listed below.

Cooler charging

Silicon chargers overheat when power demands increase and from overuse. Due to higher power density, GaN chargers do not heat as much as silicon chargers. GaN chargers are not hot to the touch, even when delivering more power than silicon chargers. As a result, GaN chargers outperform silicon chargers in high-wattage devices such as laptops, gaming systems, and home appliances.

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Energy saving

Gallium nitride chargers contain optimized designs for power delivery. Such designs contribute to faster and better performance of the charging process. Using a gallium nitride charger contributes to worldwide sustainability efforts. They minimize energy consumption to a certain extent and support the battery health of the charging device.

Simple design

GaN chargers are similar to conventional chargers. No science needs to be learned for their use. Just open the box and start using them. Any charger can only power a device as much as it can accept. It is always good to learn about product information, compatible devices, and ratings through their manual.

Small size

GaN chargers are smaller, slimmer, and compact. Due to higher power density, GaN chargers can deliver 100 Watts of power even from a standard smartphone charger. You can expect the same charging capabilities from a very small finger-sized gallium nitride charger as a full-size silicon charger. As a result, GaN chargers are easier to carry— travel-friendly.

Longer lifespan

Conventional chargers have a shorter lifespan due to overheating issues. Silicon portable chargers are replaceable due to wear and tear in high-power environments. Gallium nitride chargers are durable as they can handle high voltage without degradation. They are likely to exhibit a longer product lifespan compared to silicon chargers, resulting in less e-waste.

GaN vs Silicon Chargers

GaN is a better semiconductor than silicon. It is a wideband gap semiconductor— a class of semiconductors known for their exceptional behavior! GaN exhibits a wide bandgap energy of 3.4 eV, much higher than silicon (1.12 eV). It is one of the main reasons why GaN chargers outperform silicon chargers.

Due to a wider bandgap, the power density of GaN is generally 5x that of silicon. It means that GaN can deliver more power from a given area, compared to silicon. In case of overvoltage, GaN chargers are less likely to be damaged. Thanks to a higher breakdown voltage. As a result, gallium nitride chargers are smaller and more efficient than silicon chargers. The table below compares the features of Silicon and GaN chargers.

GaN charger myth busters

Gallium nitride chargers lack customer awareness. People have developed some misconceptions about their charging capabilities and safety. The following section aims to clarify misinformation about GaN chargers.

Myth: GaN chargers are wireless chargers

GaN chargers are no different than conventional chargers. One end of a charger is connected to the switch, and the other end is a cable. The cable can be plugged into any compatible device. It is important to note that gallium nitride chargers are not wireless chargers.
Fact: GaN chargers are wired chargers.

Research & Development

Is gallium nitride (GaN) the silicon of the future?

Myth: GaN chargers are 100 times faster than normal chargers

Gallium Nitride chargers are indeed fast. But not as much as you want them to be. You cannot charge your phone up to 100 % within 2 minutes of connection. Gallium nitride charges are smaller and consume less energy than conventional chargers. It happens in the backend processes, which you cannot track.

For example, you have a 100W gallium nitride charger and a 50W silicon charger. Both are of the same size. The 100W GaN charger is much faster than a 50W silicon charger. If you compare a 100W GaN charger and a 100W silicon charger, the GaN charger is smaller in size. There will be no difference in charging times between 100W silicon and 100W GaN chargers. So, GaN chargers are fast in the same physical size rather than in power ratings.
Fact: GaN chargers are smaller and somewhat faster than conventional chargers.

Myth: GaN chargers are cheap

You can get a duped silicon charger of any popular brand very easily. You cannot get a duped gallium nitride charger. GaN chargers are subject to market availability. Fewer manufacturers build them. As a result, GaN chargers are costly.
Fact: GaN chargers are expensive

Myth: GaN chargers are not safe

GaN chargers are safe to use. Regulatory bodies have certified GaN chargers for their commercial use. Gallium nitride chargers are adaptable to high-power levels and have built-in features to combat overvoltage, overheating, and short circuits.
Fact: GaN chargers are safe

Concluding

Gallium Nitride (GaN) is an industry-famous semiconductor. However, it is not popular among the general public. Seeing a gallium nitride charger can make anyone curious. Enthusiasts willing to use newer technologies Google their full form to find out if they are safer to use or not.

When gallium nitride chargers show up in the search engine result pages, people get confused. Subconsciously, people can draw a correlation between such chemistry-based names and hazardous chemicals. Hence, manufacturers and sellers should be strong in their marketing game. They should explain gallium nitride chargers to people who are not technologically sound.

In conclusion, GaN chargers are faster, smaller, and more efficient than their silicon counterparts.

References

• https://www.phihong.com/gan-charging-why-are-gan-chargers-better-than-silicon-based-chargers/#:~:text=3.,use%20without%20compromising%20on%20performance.

• https://www.reddit.com/r/UsbCHardware/comments/zx1ht7/trouble_understanding_gan_charger_benefits/

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