Recently, many engineering teams have reported varying degrees of price increases, longer lead times, and supply fluctuations for tantalum capacitors and multilayer solid-state capacitors. A common background is that the explosive growth in demand for AI servers has led to a concentrated release of demand for high-performance capacitors, thus amplifying supply and demand tensions and price fluctuations (based on publicly available information and industry phenomena; specific price increases and lead times depend on the supplier/project).
What we need to focus on is—when you encounter cost and delivery pressures related to tantalum/multilayer capacitors in your projects (consumer electronics, industrial control, automotive electronics, power modules, etc.), is there a more controllable engineering alternative that meets electrical performance and reliability requirements: solid-state aluminum electrolytic capacitors / hybrid solid-liquid aluminum electrolytic capacitors (requires verification under the same conditions)?
This article provides a reproducible judgment path for engineering projects: under what conditions is it worthwhile to evaluate replacement, under what conditions is it not recommended to change, and how to quickly identify key directions and verification points.
Pre-Replacement Assessment Analysis
Our core principle is: replacement is not a hard substitution, but rather a process that ensures stable cost and delivery while meeting electrical performance and reliability requirements. Therefore, a project assessment is necessary before selecting capacitors.
1. Worthy of Replacement Assessment (High Priority)
Cost-sensitive + Delivery-sensitive: Desire to reduce BOM costs and supply risks.
Not rigidly constrained by “limited size/height,” but still requiring low ESR/ripple resistance/long lifespan.
Typical Locations (Examples, based on topology): Power module filtering/energy storage nodes, DC-DC output filtering, board-level decoupling/energy storage, bus filtering, etc.
2. Cautious/Not Recommended for Hasty Replacement (Low Priority)
1. Space/Height Constraints (Only Ultra-Thin Packages Allowed)
2. Strong Constraints on “Limited High-Frequency Impedance/Limited ESR” (Especially in the MHz Range); Customer/Platform Specified Part Numbers or Certification Locked in
Why Does Capacitor “Structure” Affect Supply Chain Attributes?
Tantalum capacitors: Extremely high volumetric efficiency, suitable for space-constrained designs; however, the supply chain is more sensitive to upstream raw material and market fluctuations.
Multilayer solid-state capacitors: Low ESR, strong ripple capability, and outstanding high-frequency performance; however, high process barriers exist, and peak demand may lead to supply pressure.
Solid-state aluminum electrolytic capacitors / hybrid solid-liquid aluminum electrolytic capacitors: Based on mature winding structures and aluminum-based materials, costs are more controllable, and a better balance can be achieved in terms of lifespan, wide-temperature stability, and overall cost-effectiveness (comparison should be based on verification under the same conditions).
Table 1: Comparison of Materials and Structures of Tantalum, Multilayer, Hybrid Solid-Liquid Capacitors, and Solid-State Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors
| Comparison Dimension | Conductive Polymer Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor | Laminated Polymer Solid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor | Liquid – Solid Hybrid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor | Solid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor |
| Anode Material | Metal powder sintered body | Etched aluminum foil | High – purity etched aluminum foil | High – purity etched aluminum foil |
| Dielectric Material | Tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅) | Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) | Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) | Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) |
| Cathode Material | Manganese dioxide (MnO₂) or conductive polymer | Conductive polymer | Conductive polymer + electrolyte | Conductive polymer |
| Structural Characteristics | Porous sintered block, dielectric layer is extremely thin (nanometer level) | Multilayer aluminum foil laminated structure, similar to MLCC | Wound type, all – solid structure | Wound type, all – solid structure |
| Encapsulation Form | Surface – mount type | Surface – mount type, rectangular package | Surface – mount type, through – Plug-in type | Surface – mount type, through – Plug-in type |
Key Electrical Performance Comparison (Typical Value Examples | Cross-sectional Comparison Requires Same Test Conditions)
Table 2: Comparison of Electrical Performance Parameters for Tantalum, Multilayer, Solid-Liquid Hybrid Capacitors, and Solid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors of the Same Specification
| Key Parameter/Capability Value | TGC15 35V474F 7343 – 1.5 (Conductive Polymer Capacitor) | MPD28 35V 474F 7343 – 2.8 (High – Polymer Solid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor) | NGY 35V 100μF 5 * 11 (Solid Hybrid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor) | VPX 35V 47μF 6.3 * 4.5 * 8 (Solid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor) | NPM 35V 47μF 3.5 * 5 * 11 (Solid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor) |
| Ripple Withstand Voltage | 40V | 45V | 41V | 41V | 41V |
| ESR Typical Value (Equivalent Series Resistance) | 100 (mΩ 100KHz) | 40 (mΩ 100KHz) | 7 – 9 (mΩ 100KHz) | 18 – 21 (mΩ 100KHz) | 35 – 40 (mΩ 100KHz) |
| Ripple Current | Under the condition of 45°C and 100KHz, it can reach 1200 (mA rms effective value) | Under the condition of 45°C and 100KHz, it can reach 3200 (mA rms effective value) | Under the condition of 105°C and 100KHz, it can still reach 1250 (mA rms effective value) | Under the condition of 105°C and 100KHz, it can still reach 1400 (mA rms effective value) | Under the condition of 105°C and 100KHz, it can still reach 750 (mA rms effective value) |
| Loss Tanδ Typical Value 20±4% at 2℃ 120Hz (%) | 10% | 6% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Leakage Current Specification Value | <164.5μA | <164.5μA | <10μA | <10μA | <10μA |
| Capacitance Tolerance Range | ±20% | ±20% | ±10% | ±10% | ±10% |
| Specific Dimensions | 7.3 * 4.3 * 1.5mm | 7.3 * 4.3 * 2.8mm | 5 * 11 (Maximum Installation Height 5.05mm) | 6.3 * 5.8 (6.3mm Max) | 3.5 * 5 * 11 (Maximum Installation Height 3.80mm) |
| Temperature Stability | -55°C to +105°C range, capacity change ≤20% | -55°C to +105°C range, capacity change ≤20% | -55°C to +105°C range, capacity change ≤7% | -55°C to +105°C range, capacity change ≤10% | -55°C to +105°C range, capacity change ≤10% |
| Charge – Discharge Endurance | 20,000 times charge – discharge, capacity decay within 15% | 100,000 times charge – discharge, capacity decay within 10% | 20,000 times charge – discharge, capacity decay within 5% | 20,000 times charge – discharge, capacity decay within 7% | 20,000 times charge – discharge, capacity decay within 7% |
| Expected Lifetime | Within 5 years of use, capacity decay not exceeding 1% | Within 5 years of use, capacity decay not exceeding 5% | Within 5 years of use, capacity decay not exceeding 10% | Within 5 years of use, capacity decay not exceeding 10% | |
| Cost Comparison | Due to material and other reasons, the cost is relatively high | Moderate cost | High cost – performance ratio: In some typical solutions of the same voltage range and same target ESR/ripple design, solid hybrids can reduce parallel quantities and lower device costs; specific project BOM accounting and verification shall prevail | High cost – performance ratio | High cost – performance ratio |
As shown in Table 2, “Comparison of Electrical Performance Parameters of Tantalum, Multilayer, Solid-State Capacitors, and Hybrid Capacitors of the Same Specification,” tantalum capacitors, with their rare metal tantalum anode and nanoscale dielectric layer, achieve exceptional volumetric efficiency. At a specification of 35V 47μF, the height of a tantalum capacitor can be as low as 1.5mm, making it a preferred choice for high-end portable devices where space is paramount.
Solid-state multilayer capacitors, through their multi-layer aluminum foil structure, achieve a low ESR (40mΩ) and the highest ripple current withstand capability (3200mA). In applications such as AI servers and data centers that demand extreme high-frequency performance and stability, they are a priority when lower ESR is required and the budget allows.
Solid-state capacitors and hybrid capacitors, based on mature winding technology, cleverly balance performance and cost: they exhibit excellent ESR and ripple current performance, significantly outperforming in wide-temperature stability and expected lifespan, while also being significantly less expensive than tantalum capacitors. Their stable supply chain makes them a preferred choice in consumer electronics, industrial control, and automotive electronics, where reliability, cost-effectiveness, and delivery assurance are crucial. Important Note: Comparisons in this article cite “typical values from datasheets/public information/examples.” Test temperatures and frequencies may differ for different devices; for horizontal comparisons, data under the same test conditions should be used as the standard (verification is required for engineering substitutions).
YMIN Solid-State & Hybrid Capacitor Alternative Series
YMIN has developed corresponding product series for customers to choose from, catering to different needs such as high capacitance, low ESR, and long lifespan. The following selection table shows some specifications; more specifications can be found in the “Product Center” on the YMIN website.
Table 3: Recommended Selection of YMIN Solid-State and Hybrid Capacitor Advantages
| Solid-liquid hybrid capacitor | VHX | 105°C / 2000H | 16 (18.4) | 100 | 1400 | 25~27 | 4~6 | 6.3*4.5（4.7max） |
| 25 (28.8) | 100 | 1150 | 36~38 | 4~6 | ||||
| 35 (41) | 47 | 1150 | 27~29 | 4~6 | ||||
| NGY | 105°C / 10000H | 35 (41) | 47 | 900 | 15~17 | 4~6 | 5*6 | |
| 35 (41) | 47 | 900 | 20~22 | 4~6 | 4*11 | |||
| 35 (41) | 100 | 1250 | 12~15 | 8~10 | 5*11 |
Q&A Section
Q: Can hybrid solid-liquid capacitors directly replace tantalum/multilayer solid capacitors?
A: Yes, they can be a replacement option, but verification is required based on target ESR, ripple current, allowable temperature rise, surge/startup impact, and height space constraints. If the original solution relies on the high-frequency impedance advantage of multilayer solid capacitors in the MHz range, simulation or actual measurement of high-frequency noise indicators is necessary.
Contact Us
If you are conducting a tantalum/multilayer capacitor replacement evaluation, please feel free to request: datasheet, replacement selection table, BOM comparison suggestions, sample application, and test data/verification suggestions (based on your topology and operating conditions).
JSON Summary
Market Background | The increasing demand for AI servers is one of the common driving factors for fluctuations in the supply and demand of tantalum capacitors/multilayer solid capacitors, which may lead to price increases and unstable delivery times (subject to public information and actual procurement).
Applicable Scenarios | DC-DC output filtering, board-level decoupling/energy storage, and bus filter nodes in consumer electronics/industrial control/automotive electronics/power modules, etc. (based on topology and specifications).
Core Advantages | While meeting electrical performance and reliability requirements: more controllable cost and delivery / wide temperature range stability / low leakage current / overall cost-effectiveness (subject to verification under the same conditions).
Recommended Models | ymin: NGY / VP4 / VPX / NPM / VHX
Post time: Jan-19-2026