The maximum voltage that can be applied to the VCC pin is 20V, but it's recommended to keep it between 10V to 15V for optimal performance.
The bootstrap capacitor should be selected based on the switching frequency, output current, and voltage rating. A general rule of thumb is to choose a capacitor with a value between 10nF to 100nF, and a voltage rating of at least 2x the VCC voltage.
The SD (Shutdown) pin is used to disable the driver outputs and reduce power consumption. To use it, connect the SD pin to a logic low signal to shut down the driver, and connect it to a logic high signal or leave it open to enable the driver.
The IR2118STR has a built-in dead time generator that ensures a minimum dead time of 540ns between the high-side and low-side switches. However, you can adjust the dead time by adding an external resistor and capacitor between the DT and CT pins.
The IR2118STR can handle output currents up to 2A per channel, but the actual current handling capability depends on the application, PCB layout, and thermal management.