The share of electrical energy in industrial and social applications is growing rapidly worldwide. At the same time, demands on energy efficiency, power density, and system integration are increasing – in mobility applications, data centers, and electrified infrastructures alike. In his inaugural lecture at the TU Hamburg, Prof. Holger Kapels explains: “Conventional power electronic components are increasingly reaching their physical and technological limits, but the demand for electrical energy is constantly growing.” For example, in order to operate electric vehicles sensibly, cars need smaller, lighter, and more efficient drives for a longer range.
Energy-efficient power semiconductors
Prof. Kapels' field of expertise is researching new materials that help meet these requirements. As an alternative to conventional silicon, he is analyzing materials such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Both are semiconductor materials used in power electronics applications and are increasingly replacing silicon. The structure of these composite materials needs to be researched further to ensure that they work reliably. “The goal is to achieve the same range with electric cars as with conventionally powered cars without being limited by the components. After all, we want to live in a society that meets high energy demands without releasing fossil CO2 during production,” says electrical engineer Kapels.
Kapels describes this approach in detail in his lecture “Innovative power semiconductor devices as a key technology for an electrified future.” After a welcome address by TUHH President Andreas Timm-Giel and a tribute by State Secretary for Science Dr. Eva Gümbel, Ansgar Thorns, Head of Development at Nexperia, emphasized the social added value that this professorship can bring in the future. The newly established endowed professorship, funded by Hamburg-based semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia, is located in the School of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics at TU Hamburg. There, Prof. Kapels is setting up the Power Electronic Devices Institute.
Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology
Holger Kapels studied electrical engineering at the University of Bremen and received his doctorate in 2002 from the Institute for Electrical Drives, Power Electronics, and Components. Prior to that, he joined Infineon Technologies AG in Munich in 2000, where he developed power semiconductor devices based on silicon carbide and CoolMOS technology. In 2010, he took up a professorship at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, where he has been designing and managing a Fraunhofer Application Center since 2015. In 2016, he was appointed Professor of Semiconductor Devices for Power Electronics at Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel and, at the same time, began working at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology, where he headed the Power Electronics business unit – and, since 2022, also as acting institute director. In April 2025, he was appointed Professor of Power Electronics Devices at the Technical University of Hamburg.
State Councilor Dr. Eva Gümbel: "The new endowed professorship at the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH) deals with a key technology of our time. Power electronics forms the basis for energy efficiency and sustainability in numerous applications – from electromobility and renewable energies to industrial automation. In the future, knowledge that is crucial for meeting the challenges of climate change will be generated and passed on here at the TU Hamburg. With his expertise, Professor Kapels has the ideal qualifications to advance research and teaching in this field and further strengthen Hamburg as a location for forward-looking technologies. I congratulate the TUHH and wish Professor Kapels a good start!
About Nexperia
Nexperia is a global semiconductor company headquartered in the Netherlands, with over 12,500 employees in Europe, Asia, and the United States, and a long history in Europe. As a leading expert, Nexperia designs and manufactures essential semiconductors, components that enable the basic functions of virtually every commercial electronic design in the world. These are found in automotive and industrial electronics as well as in mobile and consumer applications.
With over 100 billion components shipped annually, the company serves a global customer base. These products are considered the benchmark for efficiency in terms of manufacturing, size, power consumption, and performance. Nexperia's commitment to innovation, efficiency, sustainability, and strict industry requirements is reflected in its extensive IP portfolio, growing product range, and certification to IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 standards.
