TOP

    Its size: smaller than 1/10,000
    of a grain of rice.
    Using small power to support
    the world
    and to explore space

    We just expect smartphones, computers, home appliances, cars, and other items we use in our everyday life to operate smoothly. But did you know that meeting this expectation is not easy? Delivering reliable performance exactly as designed is what capacitors excel at, a component that is more than 10,000 times smaller than a grain of rice. We spoke with Mr. Yamaguchi, who leads capacitor product technologies, and Mr. Hirai, who oversees development, about their vision for "Small is Dynamic" - future innovations enabled by miniature capacitors.

    Mr. Yamaguchi of the Marketing Group, Ceramic Capacitor Business Unit (left); Mr. Hirai of the Technology Development Group, Ceramic Capacitor Business Unit (right)

    The tiny powerhouse
    behind the performance of every electrical device

    --- What role does a capacitor play?

    Yamaguchi: Initially used in radios, components managed the temporary storing and releasing of power. As you may know, the power that flows in electrical devices is unstable. Voltage fluctuations and noise constantly occur. If we allow electric current to flow freely, electronic circuits won't function well. By suppressing voltage fluctuation, eliminating noise, and sorting signals by frequency, capacitors stabilize energy - allowing electrical devices to operate smoothly.

    Hirai: As technology advanced from radios to smartphones, devices packed in more components, such as semiconductors, to improve performance. At the same time, the number of required capacitors also increased. Cell phones need about 250, computers use around 750, and high-end smartphones are in the 1,800 range! These account for more than half of the components built into the devices. High-performance electronic devices today are basically capacitor clusters, which means that capacitors are an essential part of our lives.

    --- How have capacitors themselves evolved?

    Hirai: Simply put, they have become high-voltage and high-capacity. To ensure that the many built-in high-performance components operate steadily, they must increase the capacity of storable power and handle high voltage and wide-ranging frequencies. Meanwhile, the smartphones we use have evolved to have constantly accelerating processing speed, additional complex functions, and longer battery life, yet the sizes have barely changed, right? This means that we needed to miniaturize our components to fit inside.

    Yamaguchi: That's right. But miniaturizing them decreases their power storage capacity. Increasing the capacity while reducing the size was a huge challenge, but we achieved it with the "multi layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC)." We applied electrode paste to ceramic sheets, and by stacking hundreds of layers in a laminated structure, we achieved large capacity and high functionality despite the small size.

    MLCC's large capacity is due to these precisely stacked layers. Some products have over 1,000 layers!

    Parts so microscopic that they could be carried away by a breath
    hold immense promise for space exploration and human wellness alike.

    --- What does "Small is Dynamic." mean in the context of capacitors?

    Yamaguchi: In September 2024, we developed the world's smallest MLCC (*1), and it is indeed "small." Measuring 0.16 mm x 0.08 mm, it's more than 10,000 times smaller than a grain of rice, and the side length is the thickness of a single hair. At this size, it's so light that simply breathing on it can blow it away, so substrate mounting is a huge challenge. For MLCCs that had already scaled up to mass production, we collaborated on the substrate mounting process with the mounting machine maker. To be honest, I am still astounded that something this small could be positioned properly for mounting.
    *1 Per research by Murata as of September 18, 2024

    Hirai: As for the word "Dynamic," this can describe how our capacitors are also used in electronic devices that are quite literally in space, including on satellites and the H3 rocket. And when human lives are at stake, such as in automobile use, the components must be of especially high quality and performance. A failure to move or react could lead to major accidents. Especially in space, where components are subject to completely different conditions than on earth, they cannot be easily replaced. This is why capacitors must be very high quality and very durable for use over extended periods of time. I am proud that our specifications meet these rigorous standards, and that our components are trusted for space use.

    Yamaguchi: Our MLCCs have earned the number 1 share globally (*2). Murata makes about one in every three capacitors used in various products around the world. To date, we have sold over 20 trillion units! Despite their microscopic size, we have supplied a quantity that would go to the moon and back 40 times when lined up. It's not an exaggeration to say that our capacitors are in nearly all of the electronic devices around you. Murata's capacitors are the unsung heroes of many devices-people all over the world use them unknowingly. I think this is one aspect of "dynamic."

    *2 Global share 40% (according to March 31, 2025, data)

    --- What kind of future would you like capacitors to make possible?

    Yamaguchi: By making capacitors even smaller, we can advance societal wellness through wearable technology and ultra-miniaturized implantable devices. I would also like to develop a capacitor that can be used in an electronic component for quantum computers that operate at extremely low temperatures, near absolute zero. It is exciting to think of a future with our capacitors mounted on electronic devices that can dramatically improve our lives.

    Hirai: In terms of the wellness field, ultra-miniaturized capacitors could spur the invention of innovative wearable devices . And with the rapid evolution of generative AI, electronic devices with abilities even greater than today may emerge. This small part, our capacitor, has enormous potential to help advance our society's future.

    Its size: smaller than 1/10,000 of a grain of rice.
    Using small power to support the world
    and to explore space     Saving lives with ultra-precise sensors
    - ten times more accurate in just a decade

    More Information

    Murata Unveils the World’s Smallest Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor
    with the First 006003-inch Size (0.16mm×0.08mm) Device Open in new window

    Installing Electronic Circuits of Dramatically Increasing Size into Compact Devices
    - Murata's MLCC for 5G Smartphones (Part 1 of 2) Open in new window

    Learning from the H3 Launch Vehicle:
    Method and
    Competitiveness of Combining Flexibility, High Reliability,
    and Thorough Cost Reduction Open in new window

    Back
    Careers

    Please find our latest information and activities on our social media sites

    • linkedin
    • facebook
    • YouTubeIcon