Semiconductor Switching Interpretability Theory: Establishing Interpretability for Semiconductor Switching Behaviors by Bridging Circuit Theory, Conservation Laws and Semiconductor Physics

Abstract

Global electricity demand is expected to more than double by 2050^1-8, driven by emerging loads including AI data centers,^3,4 electrified transport^5,6, heat pumps⁷,  electrolytic hydrogen production⁸ and robotics². The global sustainability urgently demands green electrical and electronic engineering (EEE), where semiconductors are core components. However, semiconductor switching behaviors have been treated as a “black box” lacking interpretability since 1947⁹, placing fundamental limits on semiconductor sciences, engineering and downstream applications. Here we present the Semiconductor Switching Interpretability Theory (SSIT), which provides interpretability for semiconductor switching behaviors and interactions between semiconductors and other circuit elements, by bridging circuit theory¹⁰, conservation laws and semiconductor physics. SSIT carries profound implications, including establishing a new fundamental groundwork and a wealth of foundations and directions for future investigation. As examples, SSIT yields a switching-energy-loss prediction model (errors: 0.88–11.60%), achieving a 17-fold average error reduction compared to the existing model (errors: 34.41–80.05%); it enables unprecedented causal-mechanism interpretations for switching waveforms and interactions between the semiconductor and other circuit elements across scenarios. It informs semiconductor engineering and downstream applications individually, and further enables future-generation co-design between them—currently treated separately—for optimal system performance such as maximized energy and emission savings and reliability. It also opens directions across disciplines including semiconductor materials,^11,12 device structure engineering,^13,14 packaging,^15,16 reliability,^17,18 thermal management;^19,20 and downstream applications such as power electronics (an EEE’s sub-field handling electric power using semiconductors), and potentially across EEE sub-fields, including higher-frequency communication and computation devices and integrated circuits.^21,22