ROHM Co., Ltd. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) have joined hands to develop GaN power devices for automotive applications, and are moving forward in earnest to expand the application of GaN technology in the electric vehicle and industrial equipment fields.

ROHM announced that it has recently entered into a strategic partnership with TSMC for the development and mass production of GaN power devices for automotive applications.

This partnership will combine ROHM’s GaN device development technology with TSMC’s cutting-edge GaN-on-Silicon process technology to respond to the growing demand for power devices with superior high-voltage and high-frequency characteristics.

GaN power devices are used in consumer and industrial devices such as AC adapters and server power supplies, and are expected to expand into automotive applications such as onboard chargers (OBCs) and inverters for electric vehicles (EVs).

This partnership builds on the existing collaboration between ROHM and TSMC, where in 2023 ROHM adopted TSMC's 650V GaN HEMT process for Delta Electronics' 45W AC adapter 'C4 Duo'.

Katsumi Azuma, Executive Officer and Managing Director of ROHM, said, “GaN devices capable of high-frequency operation are compact and low-power, contributing to the realization of a decarbonized society. “We are receiving attention for our contribution,” he said, adding, “We will cooperate with TSMC to provide GaN solutions to the automotive field and promote the spread of GaN.”

“As we advance the next generation of GaN process technology, TSMC and ROHM will collaborate on the development and manufacturing of GaN power devices for automotive applications,” said Chien-Hsin Lee of TSMC. “We will push the boundaries of GaN technology and promote its installation in electric vehicles (EVs).”

Through this partnership, ROHM and TSMC will provide sustainable power solutions and expand the application of GaN technology in electric vehicles and industrial equipment.