Cryogenic power electronics are a critical enabling technology for superconducting electric aircraft. Operating power electronics at cryogenic temperatures alongside superconducting motors and cables can improve overall system efficiency.
Semiconductor Materials
- Silicon (Si) — well-understood cryogenic behaviour but limited performance gains
- Silicon Carbide (SiC) — significant improvements in switching performance at low temperatures
- Gallium Nitride (GaN) — promising but less characterised at cryogenic temperatures
Passive Components
Capacitors, magnetic core materials, and magnet wire types all exhibit different behaviours at cryogenic temperatures that must be understood for reliable system design.