GENESIC SEMICONDUCTOR INC. — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: Monolithic Integrated SiC Super Junction Transistor-JBS diode (MIDSJT) devices are used to

Description

Monolithic Integrated SiC Super Junction Transistor-JBS diode (MIDSJT) devices are used to construct 500<SUP>o</SUP>C capable motor control power modules for direct integration with the exploration rovers required to operate in Venus-like environments. The Phase I of this proposed work will focus on the integrated MIDSJT device development and high-temperature packaging. Phase II will focus on the integration of the MIDSJT devices to construct full 3-Phase Inverter Motor Control Modules. Although SiC is the semiconductor material of choice for fabricating high-temperature (> 150<SUP>o</SUP>C) power electronics, existing SiC MOSFET and JFET based transistor device technologies perform poorly at temperatures exceeding 200<SUP>o</SUP>C. The proposed gate oxide-free Integrated MIDSJT device technology will overcome several problems associated with existing SiC device technologies by: (A) exhibiting desirable normally-OFF operation yet best-in-class on-state characteristics at temperatures as high as 500<SUP>o</SUP>C, (B) eliminating parasitic inductances/capacitances associated with interconnecting discrete devices, and (C) eliminating high-temperature gate oxide reliability issues. Special device designs and fabrication processes will be investigated in this work for reliable device operation at 500<SUP>o</SUP>C. Novel power device packaging techniques in the areas of power substrate, die-attach, chip metallization and wire bonds will be explored to demonstrate reliable module operation at 500<SUP>o</SUP>C after several thermal cycles.