TOKYO -- Japanese manufacturers seek a bigger presence in advanced materials for chips and electric vehicles, a key export sector caught up in the great-power competition between the U.S. and China.
Sumitomo Metal Mining will supply silicon carbide wafers for power control semiconductors, starting this fiscal year. Compared with silicon substrates, those made from silicon carbide can withstand higher voltages. They reduce power loss by roughly 10%, extending the driving range of electric vehicles. Prices are expected to be 10% to 20% lower as well.
