Thin film capacitors are known for their stability, low loss characteristics, and negligible piezoelectric effect, especially in high-frequency and high-precision simulation applications. However, high-voltage multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) can now rival or surpass thin film capacitors in key areas such as temperature stability, frequency response, and voltage handling. Due to its smaller surface mount packaging, MLCC is increasingly becoming a better choice for many modern applications, especially in applications where space saving is the main design consideration.
MLCCs with Class 1 dielectrics manufactured according to the IEC C0G standard are eroding the application areas traditionally occupied by thin film capacitors, especially in resonant circuits or automotive electronic devices where size and accuracy are crucial. C0G represents a ceramic dielectric with a temperature coefficient of 0 ± 30 ppm/° C in the range of -55 ° C to+125 ° C, and is equivalent to the negative positive zero (NP0) standard function of the Electronic Industry Alliance.
Kyocera AVX offers C0G MLCC, providing an attractive option for designs that require extremely stable capacitors with minimal temperature, voltage, and time variations. This type of capacitor is suitable for circuits where component predictability is crucial, such as timing, filtering, impedance matching, or resonant parts of RF design.
Advantages of MLCC over thin-film capacitors
Capacitors using plastic or polymer films as dielectrics have excellent rated voltage, low loss, and very stable capacitance over a temperature range, but are typically larger and heavier than equivalent C0G MLCCs.
The demand for C0G MLCC capacitors in the market is surging to meet the needs of smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearable devices, as well as electric vehicles (EVs), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and information entertainment systems. The other main application areas of such capacitors include aerospace and defense, telecommunications, and industrial electronics, where capacitor stability is crucial for precise control and measurement.
Modern high-voltage C0G MLCCs have excellent temperature stability and minimal capacitance changes over a wide temperature range. This is much more stable than Class 2 MLCC (such as X7R) and can rival or outperform many thin film capacitors (Figure 1).
Figure 1: C0G capacitors are more stable than other dielectrics throughout the entire temperature range. (Image source: Kyocera AVX)
C0G MLCC has extremely low equivalent series resistance (ESR) and equivalent series inductance (ESI), which can significantly improve efficiency, heat dissipation, noise, and stability in power electronics, RF circuits, and modern high-speed digital systems. In addition, according to the high quality (Q) factor, the efficiency of these capacitors is higher.
C0G MLCC is becoming increasingly popular in fields where accuracy and reliability are crucial, as it can maintain stable and consistent electrical performance over time and under environmental pressures such as temperature fluctuations, humidity, and voltage biases.
Kyocera narrows the gap between MLCC and other products
In some applications, the rapid peak of high current can generate extremely high heat, causing the dielectric of thin film capacitors to soften and melt. This in turn will reduce the ability of capacitors to dissipate heat through infrared radiation and accelerate thermal faults.
Kyocera and other manufacturers have significantly narrowed the gap between MLCC and thin-film capacitors in terms of performance, while also surpassing them in terms of size, integration potential, and reliability under automated assembly conditions.
Kyocera's C0G MLCC can replace thin-film capacitors and is suitable for many designs that prioritize size, weight, and automated assembly, such as DC-DC converters, in car chargers (OBCs), and precision signal chains in automotive or industrial electronic products. Thanks to its high rated voltage and automotive grade reliability (AEC-Q200), C0G MLCC has become a favored alternative solution for achieving higher capacitance and voltage in smaller, more robust, and scalable system designs.
In the past, product designers may have chosen thin film capacitors for DC-DC converters and OBCs because these capacitors have excellent high rated voltage, low loss, and strong self-healing characteristics. Kyocera C0G MLCC can achieve highly stable electrical performance under automotive operating conditions, adapt to compact designs with smaller size and weight, and improve efficiency through low loss, thus replacing thin film capacitors in EV OBCs.
C0G ceramic is currently one of the most stable capacitor dielectrics, which can operate over a wide temperature range without aging. Therefore, this material is particularly suitable for power electronic devices in modern electric vehicles that emphasize reliability, miniaturization, and performance optimization.
The KAM automotive MLCC series of Kyocera AVX includes various capacitors, which may vary due to dielectric materials, capacitance range, rated voltage, housing size, and other factors. The company's C0G KAM MLCC is particularly noteworthy in automotive applications that require stable capacitance and low loss, such as LED lighting, sensors, audio circuits, etc GPS、 Safety control modules and touch screens, but these capacitors are also suitable for non automotive applications such as industrial power systems and renewable energy.
For example, Kyocera AVX KAM32LCG2J333 JU (Figure 2) has excellent stability, with minimal changes in capacitance with temperature, voltage, and time. This MLCC complies with the AEC-Q200 automotive standard, with a capacitance of 0.033 µ F and a rated voltage of 630 V, suitable for high voltage environments commonly found in electric vehicle systems. Its dimensions are 0.126 in. long x 0.098 in. (3.20 mm x 2.50 mm) wide and 0.110 in. (2.80 mm) high.