Application Watch: Ultrasmall forms, high capacitance lead on MLCC R&D for mobile devices

Miniaturization continues with 01005 initial availability and 008004 development, while efforts for MLCCs with more than 100µF have begun.

Wide use of multilayer ceramic capacitors in mobile electronic devices propels the manufacturing sector for the component to keep up with advances in this robust application. Miniaturization remains a key trend, while there is a rising requirement for high-capacitance types in upscale terminal products and as 5G deployment begins.

In mainland China, large suppliers such as Eyang, Sunlord and Guangdong Fenghua Advanced Technology Holding Co. Ltd have ventured into making 01005 MLCCs. Eyang, targeting mainly smartphones, wearable electronics, security products and wireless modules, has been concentrating on such units and those in 0201 in recent years. It invested in a new facility to boost output for the sizes by 30 percent, and has pushed through with the plan to pursue 008004 development.

Key local players, including Eyang and Guangdong Fenghua, will also spearhead R&D work to raise the capacitance bar to above 100µF, following the lead of companies in Japan and South Korea. They hope not only to benefit from increasing market interest in high-capacitance MLCCs, but also to steer clear of competition. Industry analysts believe there will be an oversupply of low-capacitance units in the next two years, which will result in price drops in this segment.

For the majority of mainland manufacturers, the focus is still on low-capacitance types. In miniaturization, however, there has been a transition amid wider and sustained initiatives to improve capability for ultracompact types. Most suppliers can now offer units in packages as small as 0201.

Worldwide, shipments of 0201 units for various applications have already surpassed that of 0402 kinds. The former is estimated to have accounted for 40 percent of the total for the MLCC category in 2018, a share that is expected to rise further, while those in 01005 are in the third place.

Spurring these developments is the increasing need for MLCCs. Constant updates in smartphones, in particular, have been jacking this up. In iPhones, for instance, the number of such components used has surged to 1,100 units from 177 per handset.

In projections made by EEWorld, the global MLCC sector will have a total market scale of up to $11.5 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 5 percent from 2017 to 2020. Based on estimated current shipments ofthe component, 24 percent are for mobile phones and 18 percent for PCs.

High demand, however, has led to a shortage of MLCCs. Capitalizing on this supply gap, most mainland manufacturers will continue to boost production. Interviewed Taiwan maker, Thunder Components Ltd, plans to raise output by more than 30 percent in coming months after implementing a 50 percent increase in 2018. About 30 percent of its yield is for mobile electronics. The smallest size is 0201.

Globally, companies from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US continue to dominate, having the advantage in terms of production technique and scale. Murata, TDK, Yuden, Kyocera, Maruwa, Semco, Tageo, Walsin, ATC and Vishay are among the industry leaders.

Their counterparts in the mainland include Eyang, Guangdong Fenghua, Chaozhou Three-Circle, Fujian Torch and Beijing Yuanliu Hongyuan. The rest of homegrown companies have small to midsize operations.

More than 70 percent of the mainland’s MLCC manufacturers are in the cities of Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Chaozhou and Dongguan in Guangdong province. Others are based in Suzhou and Changzhou in the province of Jiangsu.

The production pool in these areas is expected to increase in size in coming years.

MLCCs for mobile devices

Commonly made multilayer ceramic capacitors for mobile electronics in the mainland include those with 0.2pF to 100µF capacitance and ±0.05, ±0.1, ±0.5pF, ±1, ±2, ±5, ±10 or ±20 percent tolerance. These support -55 to 125 C operating temperature.

By the dielectric used, the choices are C0G (NP0), X7R, X5R, Z5U and Y5V. The available sizes are 0201, 0402, 0603, 0806 and 1210, with those in 0402 and 0603 in greater number.

Ceramic materials come mainly from Japan, South Korea, Germany and Taiwan. The rest, including metal electrode inputs such as copper and nickel, are from local or foreign sources, depending on buyers' requirement.

Due to the rise in material costs and the short supply of MLCCs, global prices jumped by more than 70 percent or as much as 100 percent in the past year. The same trend is expected in the months ahead, but the adjustment may be reduced to 50 percent or lower.

In low-capacitance MLCCs, which constitute local turnout, quotes will not change or may go down slightly.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our mainland China-based market analyst for representing current trends in multilayer ceramic capacitors from mainland China and Taiwan makers.

X7R multilayer ceramic capacitor has 0.1µF

The 0402B104K160NI/WT model from Ailun Electronic Technology (H.K) is an X7R multilayer ceramic capacitor with 0.1µF capacitance and ±10 percent tolerance. The 0402 unit has a rated voltage of 16V.

A minimum order of 5,000 units is required for delivery within 4 days.

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0201 multilayer ceramic capacitor

For miniature microwave modules, portable electronics and high-frequency circuits, Guangdong Fenghua Advanced Technology Holding Co. Ltd's model 0201B103K250NT multilayer ceramic capacitor is in versions with 0.5pF to 1,000nF capacitance and ±5, ±10 or ±20 percent tolerance. The rated voltage is 6.3, 10 or 25V.

The 0201 unit is based on C0G (NP0), X7R or Y5V dielectric material.

The supplier requires a minimum order of 50,000 units. Delivery lead time is 10 days.

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6.2 to 200V-rated multilayer ceramic capacitor

Shenzhen Topmay Electronic Co. Ltd's model TMCC05 multilayer ceramic capacitor comes in
C0G (NP0), X7R and Y5V variants with respective capacitance of 0.2pF to 10nF, 100pF to 4.7µF and 1,000pF to 10µF.

In 0402, 0603, 0805 or 1206, the unit with 6.2 to 200V rated voltage operates in -55 to 125 C.

The minimum order is 100,000 units. Delivery is within 7 days.

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70 to 22,000pF multilayer ceramic capacitor

Thunder Components Ltd markets the model CC Series multilayer ceramic capacitor in NP0, X7R, Y5V, X5R and X6S variants with 270 to 22,000pF capacitance, and ±0.05, ±0.1, ±0.5pF ±1, ±2, ±5, ±10, ±20, -20 or 80 percent tolerance. The component with 4, 6.3, 10, 16, 25, 50 or 100VDC rated voltage comes in 0201, 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, 1210 and 1812 sizes. It operates in -55 to 125 C.

The order quantity is negotiable. Delivery lead time is 10 days.

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