KUIP

講師&講演概要LECTURERS & PRESENTATIONS 

ABSTRACTS OF LECTURER & PRESENTATION

KIMOTO Tsunenobu
  • Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University
Keywords:
  • Semiconductor
  • Power device
  • Semiconductor physics
  • Electronic materials

Presentation Abstract

An ultimate energy-saving semiconductor that can change society

Semiconductors are the most important components that support a modern electronics society. The functions of personal computers and smartphones have mostly been made possible by semiconductors. Solar cells, which are becoming widespread as new power sources, and white lighting are also based on semiconductors. The semiconductors that are actively used in automobiles, electric trains, electric power supplies, etc., are referred to as “power semiconductors,” where Japan has historically been a global technology leader. Moreover, since a complete transition from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles is expected in a near future, the importance of and demand for power semiconductors will continue to increase. While silicon (Si) has long been used as the material for power semiconductors, research and development of new semiconductors that can significantly exceed the theoretical limit of Si is making rapid progress. In particular, silicon carbide (SiC), which can be said to have originated at Kyoto University, began to be put into full-scale practical use several years ago, owing to its excellent properties and remarkable progress in technology. Since adoption of SiC has been demonstrated to significantly reduce power loss in various electrical systems, the market has significantly been growing, which is driven by rapid increase of adoption in bullet trains, subways, and electric vehicles. In this presentation, the speaker will introduce the benefits of SiC semiconductor, which has been studied and been practically applied as the ultimate energy-saving semiconductor.

LECTURER’S PROFILE

Biography (As of September 2023)

Mar 1986
Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
Mar 1988
Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University
Apr 1988
Entered Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
Aug 1990
Research Associate, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
Mar 1996
Doctor of Engineering, Kyoto University
Sep 1996
Visiting Scientist, Faculty of Physics, Linköping University, Sweden
Feb 1998
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University
Apr 2006 – Present
Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University

Awards and Honors

2004
Achievement Award, Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers
2011
Osaka Science Prize
2014
Ichimura Prize in Science
2015
Kato Memorial Award
2020
Iwatani Naoji Memorial Award
2020
Award for Science and Technology (Research Category) by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
2020
Yamazaki Teiichi Prize
2022
Award for Best Review Paper by the Japan Society of Applied Physics
2022
Eto-Hosoya Memorial Prize
2023
IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award

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