PowerCubeSemi, a Korean power semiconductor company, announced that it exhibited a gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃)-based DUV (Deep Ultraviolet) sensor at CES 2025, held from January 8 to 11 in Las Vegas, USA.

Unlike existing SiC (silicon carbide) and GaN (gallium nitride)-based sensors, the gallium oxide sensor can specifically detect wavelengths in the UV-C spectrum. Designed with high photoresponsivity and low leakage current, the product was developed over three years of R&D, incorporating cutting-edge compound semiconductor process technology. At CES 2025, PowerCubeSemi became the first company globally to showcase a gallium oxide-based product, aiming to promote its excellence to customers requiring UV-C detection.

Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) is considered a third-generation semiconductor material due to its wider bandgap compared to silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), offering superior power conversion efficiency. However, as it is an emerging market, no commercialized products have been available yet.

PowerCubeSemi established the world’s first gallium oxide manufacturing line (Fab) and has been collaborating with Hyundai Motor’s IFAT (Institute of Fundamental & Advanced Technology) since 2021 to develop 1,200V high-voltage gallium oxide semiconductors for electric vehicles. Recently, the company has focused on gallium oxide’s unique ability to detect deep ultraviolet (DUV) light, aiming to commercialize it as a fire prevention sensor. In December 2024, the company obtained New Excellent Technology (NET) certification for this innovation.

Tae-young Kang, CEO of PowerCubeSemi, stated, “Based on our DUV sensor, we aim to create the first global success story in the gallium oxide market, which no one has commercialized yet, and contribute to the localization of next-generation semiconductors.”