What are the categories of ceramic capacitors

Ceramic capacitors (ceramic capacitors) use ceramic materials as the medium and have advantages such as good high-frequency characteristics, high temperature stability, and small volume. There are various ways to classify them, and the following analysis will be conducted from different dimensions:
1、 Classified by medium material
Type I Ceramic Capacitor (Temperature Compensation Type)
Medium: paraelectric materials (such as barium titanate, strontium titanate), non ferroelectric.
characteristic:
Excellent temperature stability: The capacity changes very little with temperature (such as C0G/NP0 with a capacity change of ≤± 30ppm/℃ within the range of -55 ℃ to+125 ℃).
Low loss: The dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) is small, and the high-frequency performance is excellent.
No aging phenomenon: Long term use with stable capacity.
Application: High frequency resonant circuit, precision filtering circuit, timing circuit.
Common models: C0G, NP0, CC1, CCG series.
Class II ceramic capacitor (high dielectric constant type)
Medium: Ferroelectric materials (such as zirconates and titanates).
characteristic:
High dielectric constant: large capacity, but poor temperature stability.
The capacity varies nonlinearly with temperature: for example, the capacity of X7R changes by about ± 15% in the range of -55 ℃ to+125 ℃, and the capacity of Y5V changes by+22% to -82% in the range of -30 ℃ to+85 ℃.
Low cost: suitable for scenarios with low stability requirements.
Application: General filtering, coupling, and bypass circuits.
Common models: X7R, X5R, Y5V, Z5U.
Glass ceramic capacitor
Medium: Glass ceramic composite material.
characteristic:
High precision: Temperature stability superior to Class II ceramic capacitors.
High temperature resistance: suitable for extreme environments.
Applications: Aerospace, military electronics, high-precision instruments.
Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC)
Structure: Composed of multiple layers of ceramic tiles stacked together, with internal electrodes arranged in a staggered manner.
characteristic:
Good high-frequency characteristics: low equivalent series inductance (ESL) and high self resonant frequency.
Wide capacity range: from pF level to μ F level, even up to 100 μ F (X7R/Y5V type).
Applications: High frequency decoupling, power filtering, energy storage.
2、 Classified by temperature characteristics
C0G（NP0）
Temperature coefficient: 0 ± 30ppm/℃, capacity hardly changes with temperature.
Application: High frequency oscillator, precision filtering circuit.
X7R
Temperature range: -55 ℃ to+125 ℃, with a capacity change of ± 15%.
Application: Universal coupling, bypass capacitor.
Y5V
Temperature range: -30 ℃ to+85 ℃, capacity variation+22% to -82%.
Application: Low cost circuits with low stability requirements.
Z5U
Temperature range:+10 ℃ to+85 ℃, capacity variation+22% to -56%.
Application: Consumer electronics power filter.
3、 Classified by packaging form
Direct insertion (DIP)
Features: The pins are soldered through the circuit board, suitable for early design or high-density insertion.
Application: Industrial control, maintenance and replacement scenarios.
Surface mount (SMD)
Type: 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, etc. (size code, in inches).
Features: Small size, light weight, suitable for automated surface mounting.
Applications: Smartphones, laptops, 5G base stations.
X2Y style
Structure: Internal dual equivalent capacitor design effectively suppresses electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Features: Strong high-frequency noise suppression ability and excellent anti-interference performance.
Applications: Medical equipment, automotive electronics, aerospace.
4、 Classified by voltage range
Low voltage ceramic capacitor
Rated voltage: below DC50V.
Applications: Low voltage signal circuits, digital circuits.
Medium and high voltage ceramic capacitors
Rated voltage: DC100V-500V.
Applications: power filtering, industrial control.
High voltage ceramic capacitor
Rated voltage: DC1000V-6000V.
Application: High voltage power supply, power electronic equipment.
Ultra high voltage ceramic capacitor
Rated voltage: above DC6000V.
Application: Special high-voltage scenarios (such as laser equipment).
5、 Classified by Capacity Range
Ceramic capacitors with low capacitance value
Capacity: pF (picofarads) to nF (nanofarads) level.
Applications: High frequency signal processing, RF circuits.
Medium capacitance porcelain capacitor
Capacity: nF to μ F (microfarads) level.
Application: General coupling and filtering circuits.
Large capacity ceramic capacitors
Capacity: μ F to mF (milliFarads) level (such as X7R/Y5V MLCC).
Applications: power filtering, energy storage.
6、 Classified by application scenario
filter circuit
Function: Filter out high-frequency noise in the power supply or signal.
Selection: High voltage capacitors (such as X7R/Y5V MLCC) or high-frequency capacitors (such as C0G).
Coupling/decoupling circuit
Function: Transmit AC signals and isolate DC components (coupling); Eliminate power fluctuations (decoupling).
Selection: Choose C0G (high frequency) or X7R (universal) according to the frequency.
Oscillation/resonance circuit
Function: Form an LC resonant circuit with an inductor to select a specific frequency signal.
Selection: C0G (high temperature stability).
Time constant circuit
Function: To determine the time constant in conjunction with a resistor (such as an RC delay circuit).
Selection: C0G (stable capacity).
bypass circuit
Function: Provide a low impedance path for high-frequency noise.
Selection: Small capacity C0G or X7R capacitors.
7、 Special type ceramic capacitor
Through-hole capacitor
Structure: The center of the capacitor is conductive, and the shell is grounded.
Features: Excellent electromagnetic shielding performance, suppressing common mode interference.
Application: Military communication, medical equipment.
Three terminal capacitor
Structure: Two independent electrodes, reducing equivalent series inductance (ESL).
Characteristics: High frequency performance is superior to ordinary two pin capacitors.
Application: High speed digital circuits, RF modules.
High voltage ceramic capacitors
Features: Withstand voltage above 1KV, using special ceramic media.
Application: High voltage power filtering, power electronic equipment.
The classification of ceramic capacitors requires comprehensive consideration of dielectric materials, temperature characteristics, packaging forms, voltage ranges, capacities, and application scenarios. For example:
High frequency circuit: C0G/NP0 ceramic capacitors are preferred to ensure stability.
Power filter: Optional X7R/Y5V MLCC, balancing capacity and cost.
High voltage scenario: High voltage ceramic capacitors are required to ensure voltage resistance.
Electromagnetic interference sensitive scenarios: using X2Y or through-hole capacitors to enhance anti-interference performance.
Through reasonable selection, ceramic capacitors can fully leverage their advantages of high frequency, high temperature, and miniaturization to meet diverse circuit needs.