What type of capacitor should I use?

In both cases the capacitors should have low leakage current and have adequate precision. The best choices for feedback capacitors are class 1 ceramic capacitors, polystyrene film capacitors, and for high temperature applications, polycarbonate film capacitors.

Are polymer capacitors better than ceramic capacitors?

This makes the polymer capacitors excellent for power supplies and audio applications. While a polymer capacitor is typically more expensive than other alternatives, it can offer cost savings over ceramic capacitors due to the reduction in capacitance at the voltage in ceramics - requiring fewer polymer capacitors to do the same job.

Are polymer capacitors good for high-frequency applications?

As touched on earlier, polymer capacitors are excellent for high-frequency applications in comparison to their liquid electrolyte counterparts. While not as good as a ceramic capacitor, they are very close and can offer high capacitance for a similar price and board footprint when compared to the ceramic capacitor option.

Are all ceramic capacitors equal?

Despite their general advantages and benefits, not all ceramic capacitors are equal, some are extremely cheap, while others are costly. The parameters of the capacitor also depend on several factors, such as which ceramic dielectric type is used. The most commonly stocked dielectric types are C0G, NP0, X7R, Y5V, and Z5U.

How to select capacitors?

Aside from the capacitance, another thing to consider on how to select capacitors is the tolerance. If your application is very critical, then consider a very small tolerance. Capacitors come with several tolerance options like 5%, 10% and 20%. It is your call which is which.

What is the most durable type of capacitor?

The most durable type of capacitor is typically considered the solid-state type, which includes tantalum and polymer capacitors. These capacitors are known for their robustness, long-term reliability, and stability under various environmental conditions.