Onsemi introduces vertical GaN power semiconductors for next‑generation AI and electrification
Onsemi has unveiled a new class of vertical gallium nitride (vGaN) power semiconductors built on GaN-on-GaN technology, aimed at high-demand markets such as AI data centers, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and aerospace. By moving to a vertical device architecture, these power devices conduct current through the thickness of the material rather than across the surface, opening the door to higher voltages, greater current handling, and superior efficiency in compact footprints.
Why vertical GaN matters
Traditional lateral GaN devices have delivered impressive efficiency and switching performance, but scaling to higher voltages and currents can be challenging. Vertical GaN addresses this by:
– Conducting current vertically through the device, which improves scalability to higher power levels without dramatically increasing chip area.
– Leveraging GaN-on-GaN substrates, which can reduce defect density, enhance thermal performance, and support robust breakdown characteristics.
– Enabling higher switching frequencies with lower losses, helping designers shrink magnetics and overall system size while improving efficiency.
Key benefits power designers care about
– Higher power density: Vertical conduction and GaN-on-GaN construction allow more power in less space.
– Efficiency at scale: Lower conduction and switching losses reduce heat and improve system-level efficiency.
– Thermal headroom: Better heat spreading supports compact, sealed designs and tougher operating environments.
– Voltage scalability: The architecture is well-suited for elevated bus voltages common in EVs, renewables, and data center power shelves.
Where vGaN could move the needle
– AI data centers: Power shelves, high-density 48V architectures, and server power stages can gain from faster switching and lower losses, enabling more compute per rack with lower cooling overhead.
– Electric vehicles: Onboard chargers, DC-DC converters, and fast-charging infrastructure benefit from compact, efficient power stages that help extend range and reduce system weight.
– Renewable energy and storage: Solar inverters, microinverters, string inverters, and energy storage systems can push efficiency higher to squeeze more usable energy from every watt.
– Aerospace and defense: High-reliability, high-efficiency power conversion is critical for avionics, satellites, and electric propulsion subsystems where size, weight, and power are at a premium.
GaN-on-GaN vs. GaN-on-Si in a nutshell
– GaN-on-GaN devices are built on native GaN substrates, which can improve material quality and reduce dislocations versus GaN grown on silicon.
– The result can be stronger breakdown performance, better thermal characteristics, and a path to higher voltage classes with consistent reliability.
– Combined with a vertical device structure, this foundation is designed to scale to demanding applications where traditional lateral GaN or silicon-based solutions may face limits.
How this fits into the wide-bandgap landscape
Wide-bandgap semiconductors like GaN and silicon carbide have been transforming power electronics. Vertical GaN adds another high-performance option, pairing GaN’s inherently fast switching with a device structure optimized for higher power. Depending on system requirements, vGaN can complement or compete with existing technologies, giving engineers more flexibility to meet aggressive efficiency, size, and cost targets.
What to watch next
– Voltage and current classes tailored to AI, EV, solar, and aerospace use cases
– Packaging and thermal solutions for dense, high-reliability designs
– Reference designs and design kits to speed time to market
– Reliability data and lifetime metrics in harsh environments
Bottom line
Onsemi’s vertical GaN on GaN-on-GaN technology signals a meaningful shift for high-power, high-efficiency applications. By combining vertical conduction with native GaN substrates, these vGaN power semiconductors aim to deliver the performance, scalability, and reliability needed for AI data centers, electrified transportation, clean energy systems, and advanced aerospace platforms. For engineers and product teams chasing higher power density and lower total system losses, this is a development worth tracking closely.
