News: Microelectronics
21 March 2025
Silicon Austria Labs and TU Graz launch joint Power Electronics Research Laboratory
Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) and Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have opened their new joint Power Electronics Research Laboratory (PERL), led by Roberto Petrella, staff scientist in Power Electronics at SAL and professor at the University of Udine in Italy, and Michael Hartmann, professor and head of the Electric Drives and Power Electronic Systems Institute (EALS) at TU Graz. Researchers from both SAL and TU Graz will work together, including four dedicated PhD students.
Picture: Group photo at the opening of the PERL Lab.
Initially planned to run for three years, PERL is dedicated to advancing fundamental research in a strategic and innovative topic, i.e. high-frequency switched power converters, with the aim of preparing researchers for future industry challenges, and for enhancing the scientific visibility of both SAL and TU Graz.
The increase in operating switching frequencies of power electronic converters allows them to be fabricated with higher performance and power densities than traditional silicon-based solutions. The fundamental research activities of PERL aim to explore the limitations when pushing the switching frequency of power electronic converters and to work on solutions to overcome these limitations.
The research aims to use the superior properties of wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) by proposing and studying new power conversion topologies (with a strong focus on soft-switching), optimal usage and design of passive components, novel gate-driving solutions, and smart packaging and integration techniques. The main objective is to push the operating frequency of the converters and to explore and understand the associated limitations, also considering electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the analysis.
Targeted applications span various industrial fields where low size and weight as well as very high efficiency are beneficial, including automotive, data centers, telecom, portable devices, and avionics/space.
The collaboration between SAL and TU Graz is expected to serve as a foundation for further industry partnerships.
