High-Temperature Characterization and Comparison of 1.2 kV SiC Power Semiconductor Devices

Focused on high-temperature (200°C) operation, this paper seeks to provide insight into state-of-the-art 1.2 kV silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor devices; namely the MOSFET, BJT, SJT, and normally-off JFET. This is accomplished by characterizing and comparing the latest generation of these wide bandgap devices from various manufacturers (Cree, GE, ROHM, Fairchild, GeneSiC, and SemiSouth). To carry out this study, the static and dynamic characterization of each device is performed under increasing temperatures (25–200°C). Accordingly, this paper describes the experimental setup used and the different measurements conducted, which include: threshold voltage, current gain, specific on-resistance, and the turn-on and turn-off switching energies of the devices. The driving method used for each device is also detailed. Key trends and observations are reported in an unbiased manner throughout the paper and summarized in the conclusion.