Challenges to High Magnetic Flux Density and Low Loss Magnetic Materials and Devices for Next-Generation Power Electronics

High-saturation magnetic flux density and low iron loss soft magnetic materials as passive components in modern power-electronics systems has attracted much attention due to the compelling global demand of carbon neutrality. For this purpose, many elemental studies on iron loss have been undergone, such as multi-dimensional iron loss map, iron loss component analysis, broad-band iron loss measurement, data science driven material development, and so on. In this paper, our recent results on iron loss analyses and material developments are introduced.

I. Introduction

Swithing frequency of modern power-electronics systems has increased due to utilization of next-generation switching power semiconductor devices such as SiC and GaN. Although the high switching frequency operation makes it realize the high-efficiency power conversion, iron loss in magnetic passive devices significantly increases. Consequently, the magnetic passive devices have accounted for close to half portions of loss and volume of a modern power-electronics system [1]. Therefore, it has been strongly eager for high-saturation magnetic flux density and low iron loss soft magnetic materials and devices available in the high frequency range. For this purpose, we have launched a research project with various approaches, including iron loss analyses, material developments, and device fabrication and evaluation. In this paper, our recent results on iron loss analyses and material developments are introduced.