Desing System
Nanocrystalline materials with Niobium:
enhancing energy efficiency
Discover how nanocrystalline materials can provide greater energy efficiency, reduced energy losses, and enhanced performance in key segments such as electric mobility, power supply, and industrial systems.
This evolution toward wide-bandgap semiconductors, including SiC and GaN, introduces new design constraints, particularly in electromagnetic interference (EMI) management. As a result, material performance becomes a key factor in enabling next-generation power electronics.
Niobium‑enabled nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials provide an optimal solution, delivering low losses and superior high‑frequency performance that enable effective EMI suppression in smaller footprints.
From AI‑driven data centers facing rising energy demand to 800V electric vehicle platforms enabling ultra‑fast charging, these materials support higher efficiency, improved reliability, and reduced copper usage, helping designers meet performance, compliance, and sustainability goals as global power consumption continues to grow.
• Maximize efficiency of charging stations
• Enable smaller, highly efficient magnetic components
• Lower magnetic interference and higher accuracy
• Improve safety in higher voltages required for ultra-fast charging batteries for EVs
• Reduce maintenance and increase durability
• Optimize photovoltaic energy grid integration
• Higher power density enables smaller components
• Precision and accuracy in smart meters
• Ensure the consistent supply of clean energy from solar panels
• Lower losses and higher efficiency for AC/DC operation
• Smart solutions for the industry, with higher accuracy in energy metering with Nano for efficiency
• Enhanced safety of operations and reduced downtime
• Filters for motor-bearing protection in VFD
Niobium at the core of electrification
Download our comprehensive technical briefing to explore how these advanced materials are revolutionizing electric mobility, energy infrastructure, and industrial applications.
a smart choice
With the rise of SiC and GaN-based devices, nanocrystalline materials are a great ally of these emerging material since they present greater performance at higher frequency ranges.
up to 50% weight reduction and 60% smaller cores, lowering costs
wider frequency damping, minimizing interference
operates safely up to 130°C, ensuring reliability
less heat generation with improved performance at low frequencies and high currents
nanocrystalline materials
What are nanocrystalline materials and why are they important?
Nanocrystalline materials have an ultrafine grain structure (less than 50 nanometers) and stand out for their high magnetic permeability, high saturation flux density, and low core losses. These high-performance materials are essential for advanced switch-mode power supplies such as converters, and inverters.
What is the role of Niobium in nanocrystalline materials?
Niobium is an alloying element used in the production of nanocrystalline ribbons, which is responsible for stabilizing and refining the grain structure in the amorphous matrix. This improves magnetic performance, especially in applications that utilize wide-bandgap semiconductors such as SiC and GaN.
Why use Nb-bearing nanocrystalline materials in SiC and GaN circuits?
SiC and GaN are the lastest generation of semiconductor devices widely used in power electronics. Using Nb-bearing nanocrystalline materials could help further increase the energy density and efficiency of the power electronics devices.
What are the practical advantages of using nanocrystalline materials in power electronics?
These materials bring significant performance gains, such as:
• Enhanced thermal stability for demanding environments;
• Higher power density enabling compact system design;
• Reduced size and weight of magnetic components;
• Improved energy efficiency for high-performance applications.
In what types of systems or equipment are SiC, GaN, and Nb-bearing nanocrystalline materials used?
These materials are ideal for high-performance power electronics systems,
such as:
• Fast chargers for electric vehicles (EVs);
• Compact switch-mode power supplies (SMPS);
• Solar inverters and renewable energy converters;
• High-power industrial drives and control systems;
• Advanced coverters and inverters for energy-efficient architectures.
such as:
• Fast chargers for electric vehicles (EVs);
• Compact switch-mode power supplies (SMPS);
• Solar inverters and renewable energy converters;
• High-power industrial drives and control systems;
• Advanced coverters and inverters for energy-efficient architectures.
Where can I find more information on nanocrystalline materials?
More information on nanocrystalline materials is available on our Nanocrystalline materials technical folder (download on this page), which shows core losses and permeability across the frequency ranges.
The data shows that Nb-bearing nanocrystalline materials deliver significantly lower losses and greater thermal stability compared to conventional soft magnetic alloys, confirming their superior performance in high-frequency, high-efficiency systems.
The data shows that Nb-bearing nanocrystalline materials deliver significantly lower losses and greater thermal stability compared to conventional soft magnetic alloys, confirming their superior performance in high-frequency, high-efficiency systems.
How does the use of Niobium support sustainable electronics?
By enhancing the magnetic performance of nanocrystalline materials, Niobium enables the development of high energy density, high-efficiency magnetic components. When used in power electronics, these Nb-bearing nanocrystalline materials contribute to improved system
energy efficiency and potentially reduced material usage.
This supports the advancement of more sustainable, space-efficient, and high-performance power electronics systems aligned with demands on carbon neutralization and technological advancement.
energy efficiency and potentially reduced material usage.
This supports the advancement of more sustainable, space-efficient, and high-performance power electronics systems aligned with demands on carbon neutralization and technological advancement.
How do Niobium-bearing nanocrystalline materials contribute to compact and efficient designs?
Nb-bearing nanocrystalline materials offer high magnetic permeability, high saturation flux density, and relatively low core losses in the medium frequency range (typically up to ~150 kHz). These properties enable the design of smaller magnetic cores for components such as power transformers.
The high permeability allows for fewer winding turns to achieve the required inductance, reducing copper usage and winding resistance. Meanwhile, the high saturation flux density supports more compact core designs.
Together, these advantages contribute to increased power density, improved thermal performance, and overall higher system efficiency—especially in compact, highfrequency power electronic applications.
The high permeability allows for fewer winding turns to achieve the required inductance, reducing copper usage and winding resistance. Meanwhile, the high saturation flux density supports more compact core designs.
Together, these advantages contribute to increased power density, improved thermal performance, and overall higher system efficiency—especially in compact, highfrequency power electronic applications.
What is the advantage of Niobium-bearing nanocrystalline materials over other soft magnetic materials?
Niobium-bearing nanocrystalline materials, in general, offer higher magnetic permeability and lower core losses. They outperform conventional materials in modern applications that demand miniaturization, energy efficiency, and thermal stability.