SK keyfoundry focuses on GaN, next-generation power semiconductors

SK keyfoundry, an 8-inch pure-play foundry in Korea, has secured key device characteristics for a next-generation power semiconductor, GaN (gallium nitride). The company is intensifying its efforts for the development of GaN and striving to complete it within the year.

Furthermore, SK keyfoundry has maintained a steadfast focus on the marketability and potential of GaN power semiconductors. To this end, the company formed a dedicated team in 2022 to drive the GaN process development. Recently, the company has secured new device characteristics of 650V GaN HEMT, and targets to finalize the development by the end of the year.

GaN HEMTs

As 650V GaN HEMTs have high power efficiency, they reduce the cost of heat sinks compared to silicon-based products. This results in a less significant difference in price for end customers’ systems compared to silicon-based products.

The company expects that the silicon-based 650V product will provide fabless customers in markets such as fast charging adapters, LED lighting, data centers and ESS, and solar microinverters with an advantage in developing premium products. In addition to securing new customers, SK keyfoundry plans to actively promote its 650V GaN HEMTs to a number of existing power semiconductor process-using customers who have expressed their interests in the technology.

GaN has been referred as the next generation of power semiconductors because of its high-speed switching and low ON resistance characteristics, which enable lower loss, higher efficiency, and miniaturization than silicon-based semiconductors. The GaN power semiconductor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 33% from $500 million in 2023 to $6.4 billion in 2032, according to a market research firm OMDIA, and will be primarily used in power supplies, hybrid and electric vehicles, and solar power inverters.

SK keyfoundry said that based on the 650V GaN HEMT, it plans to build a GaN portforlio that can offer a wide range of voltages for GaN HEMTs and GaN ICs.

“We are preparing for the next generation of power semiconductors in addition to our competitive high-voltage BCDs,” said Derek D. Lee, CEO of SK keyfoundry. “We will also expand our power semiconductor portfolio to include not only GaN but also SiC in the future to establish ourselves as a specialized power semiconductor foundry.”