NEC Corporation (NEC) has developed the world's first conductive polymer-type solid electrolytic capacitor fabricated using niobium (Nb). Sample shipment of this capacitor is scheduled to commence in August this year, with a shift to mass production planned in early 2002.

Compared to tantalum, niobium gives a better yield and is expected to enable more stable production. Niobium is being targeted for product development by a number of manufacturers because the dielectric niobium oxide film can be used as a capacitor dielectric.

NEC has been using its extensive knowledge and experience gained as a pioneer manufacturer of tantalum capacitors to develop new manufacturing technologies for capacitors and join with materials suppliers in investigating new raw materials. Through these efforts, NEC has now succeeded in developing a product never before realized: a conductive polymer-type niobium capacitor.

The main features of this product are:

1. Abundance of raw niobium compared to tantalum enables stable supply of materials
   
2. Equivalent quality to existing polymer-type capacitors achieved through employment of original NEC technology
   
3. Shape and structure identical to conventional chip tantalum capacitor
   
4. Low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) characteristics realized by using conductive polymer for the electrolyte
   

NEC's niobium capacitor has a quality and performance equivalent to the conventional tantalum capacitor, but offers considerable advantages in terms of a more stable supply. Also, by using the conductive polymer employed in NEC's mainstream NeoCapacitor as the electrolyte, the niobium capacitor can provide the low ESR features demanded by customers today.

Niobium deposits are estimated at more than 100 times those of tantalum, the stable supply of raw materials guaranteed when using niobium makes it extremely advantageous for mass production.

Initially, NEC will begin with sample shipments of the niobium capacitor (series name: NB/P) with plans to quickly expand the lineup.

An outline of the product is shown below.

DC rated Voltage	Capacitance	Case Code	Dimension	ESR	Part Number (Bulk)
2.5 V	220 mF	D	7.3 x 4.3 x 2.8 mm	55mW max.	NBPD0E227M

NEC anticipates that in the future, niobium capacitors will be used for high-capacity bands (about 1000mF), which were difficult to produce using tantalum due to high cost, and will come to replace aluminum electrolyte capacitors. Niobium will also be used, as a replacement material should the price of tantalum rise due to limited supply. By adding niobium capacitors to its existing lineup of tantalum products, NEC is continuing in its efforts to offer customers a more stable supply of small-scale, high-capacity solid electrolyte capacitors.

( July 10, 2001 )