Gallium Nitride
Samsung Electronics, which has been focusing on the automotive semiconductor market, has announced its entry into the next-generation power semiconductor market. Accordingly, industry insiders are paying attention to whether the era of silicon semiconductors will come to an end and the market for new materials will open up.
According to industry sources on July 6, Samsung Electronics recently held the Samsung Foundry Forum 2023 in both the United States and Korea. At the events, the Korean semiconductor giant announced that it will start an 8-inch gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductor foundry service for consumers, data centers and automotive applications in 2025.
Power semiconductors are used to convert power and control current in various electronic devices such as smartphones and home appliances. Recently, the prices of power semiconductors have been spiking as the world is rapidly moving towards the era of electric and autonomous vehicles. Therefore, the semiconductor industry is pinning its hopes on making power semiconductors using compound materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) as wafer materials instead of silicon. Compound materials are more durable and power-efficient than conventional silicon, so they can withstand harsh conditions such as automobiles.
European semiconductor companies, which dominate the power semiconductor market, are already actively investing in new materials. Infineon, Germany’s leading power and automotive semiconductor company, is investing massively in Dresden, Germany, and Malaysia to expand production of SiC semiconductors. France’s STMicroelectronics established a joint venture plant for SiC production in China by partnering with a Chinese semiconductor company.
Korean companies are also investing in next-generation power semiconductors as a new growth driver. Samsung Electronics started its power semiconductor business in earnest early this year by establishing a power semiconductor task force. The chipmaker is gradually materializing its business such as mentioning specific service plans at this forum.
SK Group is building a next-generation power semiconductor value chain for each of its affiliates, from SiC wafer production at SK siltron to SiC power semiconductor design and manufacturing at SK powertech. Key Foundry, a foundry company acquired by SK hynix, is also developing a GaN foundry process. DB Hi-Tech, a Korean 8-inch foundry company, also started developing SiC and GaN processes in 2022. It aims to complete the development of the GaN process in 2024 and commercialize it beginning from 2025.