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Smotek Semi has developed a new technology generation of our CNF-MIM capacitor technology. The new generation, called Gen-Zero, is the foundation for achieving the goal of manufacturing different types of capacitors with very high capacitance density – by enabling high volumetric capacitance density.
During 2023 group company Smoltek Semi has worked on developing a new technology generation of the company’s CNF-MIM capacitors with high volumetric capacitance density. Gen-Zero, as it is called, has recently been completed as part of the collaboration with YAGEO, with Smoltek Semi owning all rights to the result.
Although we have currently concluded discussions regarding a license and service agreement for the capacitors, YAGEO still has a great interest in our technology and will help us evaluate the results of upcoming Gen-One capacitors.
Farzan Ghavanini, CTO at Smoltek.
Smoltek has developed a new technology generation of the company’s CNF-MIM capacitors that enables a powerful increase in the capacitance density in capacitors.
Håkan Persson, CEO
High capacitance in a small area – and the importance of volumetric capacitance density
Smoltek’s carbon nanofiber-based capacitor technology, CNF-MIM, creates high capacitance values by growing extremely thin and tall carbon nanofibers on top of a silicon substrate. With this technology, a very high capacitance is created in a very small area. This is fundamental and demanded from the capacitor manufacturers and their customers worldwide.
Smoltek’s technology differs from competitors’, which etch deep trenches, or holes, in the silicon substrate. To fairly evaluate the two technologies, one must look at the volumetric capacitance density. This means that you must compare how much capacitance you can get in a given volume in a CNF-MIM capacitor compared to that of the competitors.
Farzan Ghavanini
With the new Gen-Zero capacitors, Smoltek can create a volumetric capacitance density of up to 120 nanofarads per square millimeter and per 1 micrometer of carbon nanofiber. This is comparable to the best capacitors on the market. The capacitance values in the Gen-Zero capacitors are, however, lower than the competitors. This is due to the fact that Smoltek Semi has not yet optimized the length of the fibers. The carbon nanofibers in Gen-Zero are only a few of micrometers tall. In the next generation, Gen-One, the ambition is to grow longer carbon nanofibers, up to 10 micrometers tall, which is expected to bring the capacitance values on par with the competitors.
Although we can provide a very high volumetric capacitance density, there is still work to be done to reach our full potential. The ongoing Gen-One project will already during this year prove the strength and potential of our technology to create a world-leading capacitor product. And, as I said, YAGEO’s technical interest in our CNF-MIM technology remains, and we will work very closely together in evaluating the upcoming Gen-One capacitors.
Farzan Ghavanini
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News
June 27, 2025
Smoltek Semi has cleared a significant milestone in the development of next-generation CNF-MIM capacitors. Samples from the latest prototype generation, fabricated with an advanced dielectric stack composed of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) have demonstrated exceptional stability under both temperature and voltage stress.
News
June 18, 2025
Smoltek Semi has initiated the signing of a technical service agreement with the Taiwanese Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) that enables low-volume production of Smoltek's propriety CNF-MIM capacitors.
News
June 11, 2025
Smoltek Semi has successfully engineered an advanced dielectric stack that surpasses 1 microfarad per Square millimeter capacitance milestone.
News
June 11, 2025
Smoltek Semi develops CNF-MIM – a proprietary capacitor technology based on carbon nanofibers, which is intended to meet the demands of next-generation electronics, including applications in AI, smartphones and automotive electronics.
News
April 28, 2025
Smoltek is awarded yet another patent in the Discrete CNF-MIM patent family. The innovation discloses a discrete capacitor component based on our CNF-MIM technology that can achieve unparalleled high capacitance density. This also brings our IP portfolio to comprise 95 granted patents.
News
March 25, 2025
Smoltek Semi and the Taiwanese Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) have finalized the technical framework for the establishment of a pilot production line for Smoltek's CNF-MIM capacitors at ITRI.