Wide band-gap materials for high power electronics

The wide gap semiconductors are the basis for the third generation of microelectronics and specially for the high end of the temperature range. In this presentation we will review the prospects and status of two members of this group: Diamond and Silicon Carbide (SiC). The two are at different stages of technological development and their respective modes of application at present are quite different. SiC devices can operate at up to 105 deg C. High power and high frequency devices have been demonstrated. Diamond is not yet ready for real electronic devices but its many extreme properties find their applications in several cases. The prospects of the future applications will be described in view of the semiconducting characteristics of these materials