News: Microelectronics
9 June 2026
Wolfspeed introduces Gen 5 SiC MOSFET technology
Wolfspeed Inc of Durham, NC, USA — which makes silicon carbide (SiC) materials and power semiconductor devices — has introduced its fifth-technology generation, demonstrating a substantial performance leap in efficiency for next-generation 1200V and 750V automotive and industrial applications.
“With Gen 4, Wolfspeed delivered the switching breakthrough our customers needed, and less than two years later we’re introducing Gen 5 that gives engineers the most current possible with a 5mm x 5mm silicon carbide footprint,” says chief business officer Dr Cengiz Balkas. The new technology unlocks “an accelerated path to smarter, more efficient, compact systems made for real-world conditions,” he adds.
Automotive OEMs continue to face pressure to meet electrification targets, while vehicle cost, safety, mileage range, and charging infrastructure availability remain barriers to broader consumer adoption of EVs. Wolfspeed says that its Gen 5 technology was designed to holistically address those barriers and sets a new benchmark for specific on-resistance (RSP) — a core figure of merit for efficiency relative to the MOSFET's active die area. Gen 5 products enable system architects to design more compact traction inverters and improve mileage per charge and right-size costly EV batteries. They also unlock new SiC opportunities by replacing mechanical relays with solid-state circuit breakers and set new efficiency standards for EV charging infrastructure, says Wolfspeed. The benefits extend beyond automotive, with applications like industrial power supplies equally positioned to take advantage of the Gen 5’s uncompromised switching performance.
Specific on-resistance reduced by up to 27% for 1200V devices
Gen 5-based systems can achieve the highest current possible at high temperatures compared with competing 5mm x 5mm-footprint silicon carbide MOSFETs, claims Wolfspeed. The firm says that its continued optimization of RDS(ON) resolves two compelling design challenges:
- It significantly improves system-level conduction losses via an up to 27% reduction in RSP over existing commercially available competing 1200V solutions. The 175°C chip-level RSP is 3.4mΩ-cm2 for the 1200V QEM50120-25D10 and 2.0mΩ-cm2 for the 750V QEM50075-025D10.
- It reduces the need for system-level design margin with ultra-low ±18% RDS(ON) distribution for both voltage nodes.
Junction temperature improved to 200°C continuous
Wolfspeed’s Gen 5 includes the same body diode introduced with the Gen 4 technology platform but has an improved junction temperature of 200°C continuous (215°C limited life), further demonstrating Wolfspeed’s commitment to helping customers build durable systems, the firm says. The MOSFETs achieve benchmark RDS(ON) while maintaining excellent switching energy with the soft body diode; overall switching losses are also reduced with further improvement in reverse recovery charge.
Designed on a commercially mature platform
Gen 5 gives customers a direct, low-risk path from design-in to volume production with no impact to automotive ramp readiness, even with surging AI demand. This is the second Wolfspeed MOSFET technology generation to be designed, manufactured and qualified within the firm’s ramp-ready 200mm device fabrication facility in Mohawk Valley, NY. New product introductions (NPI), sampling, and customer validation will be completed using 200mm production material. Furthermore, no new manufacturing toolsets are required for volume production.
“Our planar MOSFET technology still has innovation runway. We established Gen 5 on tools and processes our customers are familiar with to create a low-risk upgrade path for next-generation programs,” says Dr Adam Barkley, VP of power device and package development. “For customers facing compressed development timelines, that means faster validation, faster qualification, and faster time to market — without sacrificing the performance they know and trust.”
Insights into how Wolfspeed achieved the above performance is detailed in Barkley’s article ‘Engineering for Outcomes: Three Ways Gen 5 Achieves Real-World Performance’.
Samples for QEM50120-025D10 and QEM50075-025D10 are available for select customers through Wolfspeed’s direct sales representatives. New 750–1200V products are expected to continue launching throughout 2026 and into early 2027 as market demand and customer requirements become finalized.
Wolfspeed is demonstrating Gen 5 in booth 7-435 at the PCIM Europe 2026 (Power Electronics, Intelligent Motion, Renewable Energy and Energy Management) Expo & Conference in Nuremberg, Germany (9–11 June).
