Research Overview

Radio frequency, electricity transmission, photovoltaics, and display systems are primary applications for dielectric materials, which are insulators with electric dipoles. An electric field can displace the positive and negative charges of the material from an equilibrium position. The material, however, does not conduct electricity and will return to its original state once the field is removed. The rise of 5G technology integration in the telecommunications sector, increasing solar energy contribution in the global energy matrix, and arising space and efficiency issues in existing photovoltaic modules drive the need for dielectric material development.

This Frost & Sullivan research service provides an overview of dielectric material technology. It also identifies and analyzes research initiatives focused on developing new dielectric materials for applications such as radio frequency, consumer electronics, display, photovoltaics, sensors, 5G technology, transformers, electric vehicles, capacitors, and microphones. New dielectric materials emerging in the market include nanocomposites, ceramics, elastomers, coatings, composites, low-temperature co-fired ceramics, 3D-printed materials, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resins, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) terapolymers, and dielectric crystals. The primary research focus of these materials is to attain desired electrochemical properties for successful integration into dielectric material technology.

The study found advanced ceramic materials to be the most attractive among the different materials, with high commercial adoption in applications such as semiconductors, display, photovoltaics, and electric vehicles. Nanocomposites have the potential to be used in sensors and 5G technology applications. Ceramics, polymers, elastomers, and liquid-based dielectric materials are already utilized in several applications, such as computer memory, radio frequency technologies, microphones, capacitors, ink-jet heads, actuators, and display systems. Semiconductor and electrical transmission applications still prefer ceramic-based materials for their high thermal stability.