Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    Wk 40 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

    Benefits of Tantalum Powder Stress–Strain Curve Evaluation vs Conventional Wet Test

    Electrolyte Selection and Performance in Supercapacitors

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Researchers Demonstrated High Energy Ceramic Capacitors Stable in Wide Temperature Range

    Stackpole Offers High Voltage Plate Resistors up to 40KV

    How to Manage Supercapacitors Leakage Current and Self Discharge 

    Qualification of Commercial Supercapacitors for Space Applications

    Experimental Evaluation of Wear Failures in SMD Inductors

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Efficient Power Converters: Duty Cycle vs Conduction Losses

    Ripple Steering in Coupled Inductors: SEPIC Case

    SEPIC Converter with Coupled and Uncoupled Inductors

    Coupled Inductors in SEPIC versus Flyback Converters

    Non-Linear MLCC Class II Capacitor Measurements Challenges

    Percolation Phenomenon and Reliability of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC converters

    Root Causes and Effects of DC Bias and AC in Ceramic Capacitors

    How to Calculate the Output Capacitor for a Switching Power Supply

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    Wk 40 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

    Benefits of Tantalum Powder Stress–Strain Curve Evaluation vs Conventional Wet Test

    Electrolyte Selection and Performance in Supercapacitors

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Researchers Demonstrated High Energy Ceramic Capacitors Stable in Wide Temperature Range

    Stackpole Offers High Voltage Plate Resistors up to 40KV

    How to Manage Supercapacitors Leakage Current and Self Discharge 

    Qualification of Commercial Supercapacitors for Space Applications

    Experimental Evaluation of Wear Failures in SMD Inductors

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Efficient Power Converters: Duty Cycle vs Conduction Losses

    Ripple Steering in Coupled Inductors: SEPIC Case

    SEPIC Converter with Coupled and Uncoupled Inductors

    Coupled Inductors in SEPIC versus Flyback Converters

    Non-Linear MLCC Class II Capacitor Measurements Challenges

    Percolation Phenomenon and Reliability of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC converters

    Root Causes and Effects of DC Bias and AC in Ceramic Capacitors

    How to Calculate the Output Capacitor for a Switching Power Supply

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result

Niobium Oxide Advantages over Tantalum as a Capacitor Dielectric

28.6.2022
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

Niobium oxide is a sister metal to tantalum, and shares many chemical characteristics with it, in addition to a few advantages of its own when used as a capacitor dielectric.

NATURAL ADVANTAGES NIOBIUM OXIDE HAS OVER TANTALUM AS A CAPACITOR DIELECTRIC

RelatedPosts

Wk 40 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

Benefits of Tantalum Powder Stress–Strain Curve Evaluation vs Conventional Wet Test

Electrolyte Selection and Performance in Supercapacitors

Niobium capacitor technology has existed for decades, but its inherent direct current leakage instability and the lack of high purity niobium metal powders combined to arrest the development of this class of capacitors until recently.

Now the development of special doping techniques to improve the DCL performance of niobium oxide capacitors and the scaling up of niobium powder production have resulted in viable commercial production, and manufacturers such as AVX, Vishay or Holy Stone produce several series of surface mount niobium capacitors for commercial, industrial and automotive applications.

ADVANTAGES OF NIOBIUM OXIDE CAPACITORS

Its thin dielectric oxide layer and high dielectric strength combine to produce high volumetric capacitance ratings in similar ratio with tantalum capacitors. It is this affinity with long-established tantalum technology, plus the advantages outlined below, that make niobium oxide devices a growing sector of today’s capacitor marketplace.

  •  Abundance: an important advantage of niobium is the abundance of niobium ore in nature relative to tantalum ore; this relative abundance equates to lower cost and better availability within the capacitor marketplace.
  • Flame Retardant: niobium oxide has a far higher ignition energy than tantalum which results in a significant reduction (up to 95%) of the ignition failure mode of niobium oxide capacitors when compared to conventional tantalum devices.
  • Self-arresting mechanism: In addition to the self-healing known on conventional tantalum MnO2 capacitors, the NbO capacitors are featuring one more feature when it is exposed to local breakdown, the NbO dielectric will transform into a NbO2 semiconductor as a “second” insulation protecting the part to go to short circuit mode. Such part then continue normal operation.
  • High Reliability: the natural high reliability performance of niobium oxide capacitors makes them suitable for high performance industrial and automotive applications such as airbag controls, in-cabin entertainment systems, and seat position modules
  • Light Weight: Niobium oxide powder is half the density of tantalum powder which makes niobium capacitors a practical choice for portable and wearable electronic devices
  • Deating rule: 20% derating is sufficient compare to 50% typical derating recommended for conventional tantalum MnO2 capacitors in power, high surge applications.
  • Niobium oxide capacitors are produced using the same moulded case styles and industry standard footprints as conventional surface mount tantalum capacitors, in capacitance ratings up to 1,000µF and voltage ratings from 1.8Vdc to 10Vdc

LIMITATIONS

  • The main limitation is the maximum rated voltage – 10V, with recommended derating 20% it means the technology is suitable for operating voltages up to 8V maximum.
  • ESR is in line with conventional tantalum MnO2 capacitors that is higher compare to tantalum polymer types offering lower ESR capability
  • Product range does not offer low profile, high CV variants.
  • Maximum 125C parts with higher temperature derating above 85C.

Conclusion

Niobium Oxide capacitors are viable alternative to circuits with operating voltages up to 8V. If you do not need highest energy density in extreme low profile, the NbO capacitors may bring you the benefit in reliable and safe long term operation.

Refer further to tantalum capacitors knowledge base article: https://passive-components.eu/tantalums-capacitors/

Related

Recent Posts

Benefits of Tantalum Powder Stress–Strain Curve Evaluation vs Conventional Wet Test

3.10.2025
9

Electrolyte Selection and Performance in Supercapacitors

3.10.2025
10

Researchers Demonstrated High Energy Ceramic Capacitors Stable in Wide Temperature Range

2.10.2025
19

Stackpole Offers High Voltage Plate Resistors up to 40KV

2.10.2025
12

How to Manage Supercapacitors Leakage Current and Self Discharge 

1.10.2025
27

Qualification of Commercial Supercapacitors for Space Applications

1.10.2025
31

Experimental Evaluation of Wear Failures in SMD Inductors

1.10.2025
28

Resonant Capacitors in High-Power Resonant Circuits

1.10.2025
26
a Schematic diagram of the BNT-based components constructed based on the entropy-increase strategy. b Digital photograph, cross-sectional SEM image, and EDS mappings of the MLCCs. c Unipolar P-E loops of MLCCs as a function of applied E. d Wrec and η of the MLCCs as a function of applied E. The comparison of (e) Wrec and η, (f) η and UF of the MLCCs with those of other recently reported state-of-the-art MLCCs. source: Nature Communications

Researchers Proposed Enhanced Energy Storage MLCC

1.10.2025
14

Littelfuse Releases First Reflow-Compatible Illuminated Tactile Switch

1.10.2025
5

Upcoming Events

Oct 8
11:00 - 12:00 CEST

PCB Online Shop – simply “Made in Germany” by Würth Elektronik

Oct 14
16:00 - 17:00 CEST

Smart Sensors, Smarter AI: Building Reliable Edge Systems

Oct 17
12:00 - 14:00 EDT

External Visual Inspection per MIL-STD-883 TM 2009

Oct 20
October 20 - October 23

Digital WE Days 2025 – Virtual Conference

Oct 21
October 21 @ 12:00 - October 23 @ 14:15 EDT

Space and Military Standards for Hybrids and RF Microwave Modules

View Calendar

Popular Posts

  • Buck Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boost Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Flyback Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • LLC Resonant Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SEPIC Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Dual Active Bridge (DAB) Topology Explained

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ripple Current and its Effects on the Performance of Capacitors

    3 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 0
  • What is a Dielectric Constant and DF of Plastic Materials?

    4 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 0
  • Flying Capacitors Explained

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MLCC and Ceramic Capacitors

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter Subscription

 

Passive Components Blog

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • EPCI Membership & Advertisement
  • About

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Premium Suppliers

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version