New Transistor Brings High Voltage to Microchip Scale

semiconductor-digest.com Aug 29, 2026

New Transistor Brings High Voltage to Microchip Scale

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 29, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Researchers at EPFL’s Power and Wide-band-gap Electronics Research Lab have developed a new gallium nitride transistor called the intrinsic polarization superjunction, or iPSJ. This chip-sized device, built on a low-cost silicon base, withstands nearly 4 kilovolts before breaking down, setting a record for this technology. By exploiting GaN’s natural polarization effect, the design balances positive and negative charges, preventing the electric field concentration that typically causes premature failure in conventional transistors. The iPSJ maintains low resistance, reducing energy losses released as heat. Published in Nature Electronics, the doping-free design offers robust performance across wide temperature ranges. This innovation addresses critical limitations in high-voltage power electronics, enabling more efficient power conversion for AI data centers, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and industrial applications. The team aims to combine this approach with multi-channel conduction methods to further minimize resistance and energy loss in next-generation power electronics.

💡 Why It Matters

· Eliminating chemical doping solves the temperature sensitivity problem that plagues current high-voltage gallium nitride devices.
· This breakthrough allows power electronics to operate reliably under extreme thermal stress, a critical requirement for the dense, high-power environments of modern AI infrastructure and electric vehicle systems.

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Methane Thermolysis Has A Carbon Market Problem

Methane thermolysis, also called methane pyrolysis, splits methane with heat to produce hydrogen and solid carbon, avoiding CO₂ emissions associated with blue‑hydrogen routes. Hazer Group has moved the technology from lab to a demonstration plant and is engineering commercial‑scale units. A plant sized to output 300,000 t of hydrogen per year would generate about 900,000 t of graphite, roughly 2,500 t daily. Even a large hydrogen‑direct‑reduced‑iron (DRI) steel mill, which could consume both products, would need only 45,000‑63,000 t of carbon annually, leaving 80‑90 % of the graphite without a ready market. Existing carbon users—steelmakers, battery makers, asphalt and concrete producers—require specific purities, morphologies, and volumes that the thermolysis stream cannot consistently meet, turning the plant into a de‑facto carbon‑logistics operation.

💡 The imbalance forces producers to treat carbon as a separate commodity, adding costly storage, processing, and transport layers that could erode the economic advantage of clean hydrogen.

us.headtopics.com · Aug 29

SolarWindow launches 24.4% efficient flexible solar film in the US

SolarWindow Technologies has commenced commercial production of ElectroFlex, a flexible solar laminate achieving 24.4% efficiency for industrial manufacturers. Measuring just 0.85 mm thick, this peel-and-stick film utilizes interdigitated back-contact cells and a five-layer composite structure. It delivers a power-to-weight ratio of approximately 73 W/kg, eliminating the need for heavy mounting racks or frames. The company has released the hardware to Tier-1 original equipment manufacturers in the United States, with deliveries to North American and Asian partners scheduled for upcoming quarters. ElectroFlex adheres directly to flat and curved surfaces, making it suitable for transportation, marine, aerospace, and agricultural applications. By converting exterior bodywork into an auxiliary power source, the system helps recharge battery banks and reduce fuel consumption for auxiliary generators. SolarWindow provides a complete engineered electrical system, including wiring and power-balancing units, tailored to each specific installation. This technology addresses the structural limitations of traditional silicon solar setups, which require thick glass and metal frames that add significant weight and load points to host structures.

💡 ElectroFlex enables energy generation on weight-sensitive surfaces like aircraft fuselages that cannot support traditional solar arrays. This direct integration transforms vehicle exteriors into power sources, directly reducing fuel dependency for auxiliary systems.

vanguardngr.com · Aug 29

Kwara distributes 1,755 computers, devices to 70 schools

The Kwara State Government has initiated the distribution of 1,755 computer devices and related educational technology to 70 public senior secondary schools across the state’s 16 Local Government Areas. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq flagged off the program in Ilorin, emphasizing that digital literacy is essential for sustainable development and global competitiveness. The intervention, implemented by the State Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Employment (AGILE) project under the Ministry of Education, aims to equip teachers and students with necessary digital skills. Each school receives 25 gadgets, including all-in-one desktops, printers, projectors, and motorized screens. The administration has also installed 10kVA solar power systems, internet connectivity, and CCTV cameras in these facilities. Additionally, three teachers per school have been trained to utilize the new resources effectively. Commissioner Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe described the initiative as a substantial investment designed to enhance learning outcomes, foster creativity, and ensure students acquire the problem-solving skills required in a rapidly evolving, knowledge-driven world.

💡 By integrating solar power and internet infrastructure with hardware distribution, the state addresses critical connectivity barriers that often render educational technology initiatives ineffective in rural areas. This holistic approach ensures that digital literacy tools are functional and sustainable, directly supporting the AGILE project’s goal of empowering adolescent girls with viable skills for the modern workforce.

energy-storage.news · Aug 29

Ontario municipality rejects Bedrock Energy’s Canada compressed air energy storage project

The Municipality of Bluewater in Ontario unanimously rejected Bedrock Energy’s proposed compressed air energy storage (CAES) project during a special council meeting on August 13. Bedrock, partnering with Capstone Infrastructure, intended to bid the 382MW/3,056MWh facility in the Ontario Independent System Operator’s Long Lead-Time request for proposal. The project required approximately 130 acres of land in Huron County. Community opposition centered on the use of productive farmland and the facility’s 40-to-50-year lifespan. Although an agricultural impact assessment promised land restoration, residents remained concerned about long-term agricultural disruption. This rejection occurs as the IESO seeks up to 800MW of long-duration energy storage. Competitor Hydrostor recently submitted an advanced-CAES project to the same tender. Meanwhile, Cache Power continues developing a CAES facility in Alberta. The Bluewater decision highlights local resistance to large-scale storage infrastructure, potentially influencing future project siting strategies in agricultural regions across Canada.

💡 Local opposition to land use can derail renewable infrastructure regardless of technical merit or regulatory compliance. This rejection underscores the critical vulnerability of long-duration storage projects to community pushback over agricultural preservation.

cleantechnica.com · Aug 29

US Army Aims To Capture Energy From “The Environment”

Chariot Defense, a startup specializing in software-defined power distribution, secured a $7.6 million contract from the Defense Innovation Unit to deploy its Amphora microgrid system to the US Army this fall. The PRISM program aims to replace legacy diesel generators, which are criticized for noise, heat signatures, and inefficiency, with a modular solution that optimizes energy from diverse sources. Chariot, backed by $41 million in funding including a round led by Andreessen Horowitz, describes Amphora as a resource-agnostic tool capable of integrating existing battlefield power assets. While the company avoids explicitly labeling its technology as renewable energy, industry analysts note this phrasing navigates recent federal policy shifts regarding clean power. The system addresses operational shortcomings of current generators, which often run at low capacity and suffer from maintenance issues. By enabling seamless power for drones, electronic warfare kits, and edge AI compute, Amphora supports the electrification of modern warfare. The deployment marks a significant step toward reducing reliance on fuel convoys and enhancing tactical stealth through advanced energy management software.

💡 The Army’s adoption of software-defined microgrids decouples military logistics from volatile fuel supply chains while neutralizing the thermal and acoustic vulnerabilities of diesel generators. This shift enables distributed forces to power next-generation electronic warfare and AI systems without exposing their positions to enemy detection.

cleantechnica.com · Aug 29

Vycarb Successfully Stores Low-Purity CO2 In Seawater

Brooklyn-based startup Vycarb has achieved a significant milestone in carbon capture and storage by successfully storing low-purity carbon dioxide in seawater. The company’s pilot program, located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, utilizes ocean-based chemistry and real-time sensors to convert CO2 into stable dissolved bicarbonate. Recent tests demonstrate that the system can incorporate 99% of CO2 gas into water even when purity is as low as 50%, with 85% converting to soluble bicarbonate. This approach bypasses the costly and complex purification steps required by traditional geologic sequestration methods. Vycarb aims to validate the technology at 10% purity levels, potentially allowing direct use of fossil fuel exhaust gases. The output water remains slightly basic, posing no threat to marine life while potentially improving local water quality. With support from the expanded US 45Q tax credit, Vycarb is preparing for large-scale commercialization, offering a low-cost, full-stack decarbonization solution for coastal industrial emitters.

💡 By eliminating the need for expensive gas purification, this technology drastically lowers the barrier to entry for carbon capture, making it viable for a broader range of industrial facilities. This shift could accelerate widespread adoption of carbon sequestration by aligning economic incentives with environmental goals for coastal emitters.