Optically Triggered Ultrawide-Bandgap (UWBG) Power Electronics

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Program:
ULTRAFAST
Award:
$2,990,321
Location:
Madison, Wisconsin
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
05/07/2024 - 06/30/2027
Website:

Technology Description:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is developing an optically triggered semiconductor switching device to reduce power losses up to 50% compared with current technologies. The team seeks to monolithically integrate optically triggered phototransistors and power transistors onto the same chip—which are typically incompatible because of material dissimilarities—by using ultrawide-bandgap materials. The proposed technology could increase switching frequency without raising switching losses and serve as a critical building block for grid modernization.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Laurent Pilon
Project Contact:
Prof. Chirag Gupta
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
cgupta9@wisc.edu

Partners

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Medical University of South Carolina

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• University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) - A UNIVERSAL (Ultrafast, Noise-Immune, Versatile, Efficient, Reliable, Scalable, and Accurate Light-Controlled) Switch Module
• University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) - Optically Triggered Ultrawide-Bandgap (UWBG) Power Electronics

Release Date:
02/24/2023