Mitsubishi Electric has partnered with Coherent to expand production of 200mm SiC power devices

     Mitsubishi Motors and Coherent, a trailblazer in materials, networking and lasers, announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on expanding the production of 200mm SiC power devices.

     The electric vehicle market is expanding globally, and this is just one of several emerging applications driving exponential growth in SiC power devices, which have lower power losses, higher operating temperatures, and faster switching speeds compared to silicon-based power devices. High-efficiency SiC power devices are expected to be an important contributor to global decarbonization and green transition.

     To meet the rapidly growing demand, Mitsubishi Electric previously announced it would invest about 260 billion yen over the five-year period ending March 2026. The main part of the investment, about 100 billion yen, will be used to build a new plant for SiC power devices based on a 200mm technology platform and strengthen related production facilities. Under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties, Coherent will supply 200mm N-type 4H-SiC substrates for SiC power devices to be manufactured at Mitsubishi Electric's new plant in the future.

     Coherent has decades of experience in the development of SiC materials. In 2015, the company demonstrated its first 200mm conductive substrate. In 2019, Coherent began supplying 200mm SiC substrates on the basis of Horizon 2020, established by the European Commission.

     For many years, Mitsubishi Electric has led the development of SiC power modules for high-speed trains, high-voltage industrial applications and home appliance markets. As early as 2010, Mitsubishi Electric launched SiC power modules that began to be used in air conditioning, and in 2015, it made history by becoming a full SiC power module supplier for Shinkansen high-speed trains. Mitsubishi Electric has accumulated a wealth of experience through its superior production and screening technologies, as well as many other aspects of developing and manufacturing SiC power modules to meet customers' needs for high performance and high reliability.

     SiC power devices can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and have a beneficial impact on the environment. In response to the growing demand for SiC power devices, Coherent and Mitsubishi Electric will strengthen their collaboration to contribute to sustainable energy and achieving a decarbonized society.

     Commenting on this, Masayoshi Takemi, Group President and Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Electric Semiconductor, said: "Coherent has been a reliable supplier of high quality 150mm SiC wafer substrates to Mitsubishi Electric for many years. We are excited to enter into this close partnership with Coherent to expand our respective SiC manufacturing platforms to 200mm."

     Sohail Khan, Executive Vice President of Coherent New Industries and Wide Bandgap Electronics Technology, also said: "We are pleased to enter into a partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, a pioneer in SiC power devices and a market pioneer in SiC power modules for high-speed trains, including Japan's Shinkansen. We have a long history of supplying SiC substrates to Mitsubishi Electric and look forward to deepening our collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric on the 200mm SiC manufacturing platform."